A crocodile attacked and killed a 28-year-old man on a heavily trafficked beach in the popular resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Friday evening, according to state government officials.
The man was “engaging in recreational activities” on the Marina Vallarta Beach, in front of the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa, when he was attacked and dragged out to sea by the crocodile, said Izaías Patlán Núñez, a spokesman for the state police in Jalisco, the Mexican state that includes Puerto Vallarta.
The man’s body was located early Saturday, about 1,000 feet offshore, after an overnight search that included multiple law enforcement and rescue agencies, Mr. Núñez said. The crocodile suspected of the attack was apprehended nearby, he added.
Crocodile attacks in Puerto Vallarta are rare but not unheard-of, and fatal attacks are even more rare. In 2022, two tourists from Colorado were injured by a crocodile while swimming in the ocean at night. An 18-year-old woman from Northern California was also attacked and injured by a crocodile near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta in 2021.
In a statement, the government of Jalisco called Friday’s attack “deeply unfortunate, unusual and isolated,” and said crocodiles in the area are “subject to ongoing management and monitoring.” Surveillance was increased in high-risk areas in response to the attack, the statement said.
Diego Thomas, a spokesman for Marriott, said the hotel had “appropriate signage, as well as night patrolling and red flags to indicate caution in the area.” Images posted online show signage outside the hotel warning beachgoers about crocodiles and other animals, including jellyfish and stingrays.
“The safety and security of our guests and associates are our top priority,” Mr. Thomas said. He did not directly answer questions about whether the victim was a guest at the hotel.
A Southern California couple vacationing at the beach told NBC4 Los Angeles that they heard screams coming from the water and saw the victim get pulled under as the couple tried to reach him.
Jalisco officials warned visitors to pay attention to signage and to avoid swimming in high-risk areas at dawn, dusk and at night, and to immediately report any crocodile sightings to the authorities.
