At the end of October, the eight-year-old became Julio Otero Fernández swallowed by a crocodile in the Matina Rivernear the city of Limon in Costa Rica.
The boy was wading by the sea when the crocodile attacked without warning.
On land, parents Don Julio Otero and Margini Fernández Flore stood and became horrified witnesses as the crocodile dragged their son into the depths.
Boy (8) swallowed in front of parents
The search for the animal was quickly launched, but the work was challenging because there are many crocodiles in the area. Heavy rains also caused problems.
Now, however, they have found the crocodile that probably swallowed the eight-year-old boy, writes the Jam Press news agency.
Hair and bones
The discovery took place on Saturday 26 November. A hunter is said to have killed the reptile and then disappeared from the scene, as it is illegal to kill crocodiles in Costa Rica.
A short time later, the crocodile was found by the local population, who ripped open the animal’s stomach.
Human remains have been found there, which in all probability come from Julio Otero Fernández.
Two-year-old bitten to death by dogs
The eight-year-old boy’s mother confirmed to local media that human hair and two bones were found in the crocodile’s stomach.
– They killed the animal. I don’t know who did it, but the crocodile was killed and inside they found parts of my son’s remains, says Margini Fernández Flores, according to Jam Press.
The remains have now been handed over to local authorities for a DNA check.
LOST HIS LIFE: Julio Otero Fernández was only eight years old. Photo: Jam Press
sea View
Mora says it’s a great relief that the crocodile that killed her son is no longer alive.
– An ant to the bone
– I wish they could kill them all, so there won’t be any more families facing the same pain we do, she says.
The assault is still under investigation.
Floated away with the body
After the incident, the parents told local media they planned to move to their native Nicaragua to protect their four other children from similar incidents.
The devastated family has also sent a desperate plea to the Costa Rican authorities to find the crocodile as soon as possible.
– The worst thing for my wife was seeing the crocodile fly off with our son’s body, said the boy’s father, Don Julio Otero, according to Jam Press.
Fought for my life against the crocodile
Mora Margini Fernández Flores also put his words on the tragedy:
– It is impossible to live here in Matina. In every corner of our house we find memories of Julio, which causes an enormous amount of pain.
Parents fear more crocodile attacks and believe authorities are doing too little to stop crocodiles from taking away innocent people.
“As long as these animals are protected, they’re capable of attacking more people, and the truth is, it’s scary that something like this could happen again,” Flores said.
