Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 30
Jalisco Police Recover 28-Year-Old's Body and Capture 12-Foot Crocodile After Puerto Vallarta Attack
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 30

Jalisco Police Recover 28-Year-Old's Body and Capture 12-Foot Crocodile After Puerto Vallarta Attack

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 30

Summary

  • Jalisco state police said a search that ran through the night found Irving Mauricio's body at about 7 a.m. Saturday, and officials also captured the 12-foot crocodile suspected in the fatal attack.
  • Friday's attack happened around 6:30 p.m. near Puerto Vallarta as Mauricio, 28, struggled in the water while nearby tourists first thought he was caught in a rip current.
  • California visitors Jamie Yetter and Chris Bury tried to help, with Bury paddling a kayak out by hand after hearing warnings that a crocodile was in the water.
  • Police said the beach was not closed after the incident, though warning signs and restrictive cordons are posted near river mouths and the estuary.
  • The case has renewed scrutiny of crocodile risks in Puerto Vallarta, where local experts estimated about 200 to 250 American crocodiles in the region and lifeguards caught another 12-footer in July 2025.

Insights

Is the rise in Mexico's crocodile attacks a sign of successful conservation or a deadly consequence of unchecked coastal development?
As fatal crocodile attacks continue near resorts, are simple warning signs truly enough to protect tourists from encroaching wildlife?