Trending Now - Officer Rescued From Crocodile-infested Waters During Recovery Mission

WHO:

Yahoo News New Zealand - Captain Johan "Pottie" Potgieter, a police officer involved in the recovery mission.

Yahoo News New Zealand - Colonel Mavela Masondo, Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson.

Yahoo News New Zealand - Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane, South Africa's acting police chief.

WHAT:

Yahoo News New Zealand - Human remains were recovered from a crocodile after a police operation.

Yahoo News New Zealand - A crocodile measuring 4.5m (15ft) and weighing 500kg (1,100lb) was killed during the operation.

Yahoo News New Zealand - DNA tests will be conducted to confirm if the remains belong to the missing businessman.

Yahoo News New Zealand - Six different types of shoe were found inside the crocodile, indicating potential previous victims.

WHERE:

Yahoo News New Zealand - The operation took place in the Komati River, located in the north-east of South Africa.

Yahoo News New Zealand - The crocodile was flown to the nearby Kruger National Park.

WHEN:

Yahoo News New Zealand - The businessman was swept away by floodwater last week.

WHY:

Yahoo News New Zealand - The search was initiated after the businessman’s car became stranded while attempting to cross a low bridge in the flooded river.

HOW:

Yahoo News New Zealand - Police used drones and helicopters to assist in the search mission.

Yahoo News New Zealand - Captain Potgieter was lowered from a helicopter into the river to secure the crocodile.

Yahoo News New Zealand - The crocodile was killed before the recovery operation was conducted.

(UPDATED May 4, 2026 01:27 UTC)

In a dramatic police operation in the Komati River in north-east South Africa, human remains were recovered from a crocodile that was killed during the mission. The crocodile, measuring 4.5 meters and weighing 500 kilograms, was found to contain six different types of shoes, suggesting it may have had previous victims, and DNA tests will be conducted to determine if the remains belong to a businessman who was swept away by floodwaters last week. The operation involved police using drones and helicopters, with Captain Johan "Pottie" Potgieter being lowered from a helicopter to secure the crocodile before the recovery took place.