Tourist mauled to dying by crocodile after being dragged underwater close to lodge at fashionable resort
A tourist, aged 28, has died after being dragged into the sea and attacked by a 12ft crocodile while taking photos outside his hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Irving Mauricio died after being dragged out to sea and mauled by a massive crocodile(Image: JamPress)
A tourist has died after being dragged out to sea and mauled by a massive crocodile. Irving Mauricio, 28, was reportedly snapping photos at the water’s edge near his hotel when the monster reptile suddenly struck.
The holidaymaker, from Mexico City, was dragged into the deep by the beast in front of a panicked companion. The woman who was with him frantically raised the alarm as the croc seized him, but Irving was tragically pulled under the waves.
The attack unfolded near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa in the popular coastal resort of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Emergency services, including Civil Protection, Jalisco state firefighters and the Mexican Navy, launched a desperate through-the-night search operation while battling treacherous currents.
Tragically, Irving’s body was found floating the following day several hundred metres from where he was taken, near the beach by the Boca Negra estuary.
Forensic experts confirmed his primary cause of death was drowning, but revealed he had suffered deep bite wounds to his upper and lower limbs.
His heartbroken family, some of whom were holidaying with him, have been left completely devastated by the tragedy.
Taking to Facebook to share her agony, Irving’s grieving mum wrote: “My beautiful boy, Irving Mauricio, my life and my love. You have shattered my heart. Forgive me for not taking care of you as I would have wanted. Rest in peace, my love.”
Following the fatal attack, authorities successfully captured a massive 12ft (3.7-metre) crocodile in the same coastal area.
The beast is currently undergoing forensic analysis to definitively link it to the killing, but the reptile will likely be relocated to another area rather than being put down.
Puerto Vallarta is a well-known hotspot for crocodiles, with mangrove estuaries and waterways forming natural habitats for the predators—particularly in the northern hotel zone.
Following the death, local officials have issued an urgent warning to both residents and tourists, begging them to heed warning signs, steer clear of estuary areas and avoid entering the water, especially at dawn and dusk. An investigation into Irving’s death is ongoing.
