The small Costa Rican community was brought together in mourning this week, as they honored a local soccer player who tragically lost his life to a crocodile attack on July 30.
Remembering Jesús “Chucho” Alberto López Ortiz
29-year-old Jesús “Chucho” Alberto López Ortiz, a beloved player for the Deportivo Río Cañas soccer club, met an untimely death after he jumped off a bridge into the Cañas River in Santa Cruz, an area known to be a crocodile habitat. This account was substantiated by reports from local police officials.
The Incident at Cañas River
Eyewitnesses reported a chilling sight of López Ortiz’s body being dragged underwater by a massive crocodile. In a grim but necessary measure, Costa Rican police had to shoot and kill the crocodile to retrieve Ortiz’s remains, a detail confirmed by a spokesperson for the Costa Rican Red Cross.
A Plea for Respect
A video surfaced on social media that seemingly showed the crocodile in the river with López Ortiz’s body in its jaws. In response, his team requested the removal of such distressing content, calling for respect for the grieving family.
Farewell to a Teammate and Friend
The community came together for a funeral procession for López Ortiz. His team said in a Facebook post, “Today we said goodbye to you Chucho,” and noted that about 1,000 people – friends, family, and fellow Costa Ricans – joined in mourning at the memorial service.
Costa Rica’s Wildlife
Costa Rica is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including at least two species of crocodiles. The American crocodile, considered globally endangered, is among the species found in the country. Each year, thousands of tourists are drawn to Costa Rica to experience its rich biodiversity.
