• Identity of missing businessman Gabriel Batista confirmed after remains found inside giant crocodile
• Ring and six pairs of shoes discovered inside animal at scene

The remains of a missing South African businessman were found inside a giant crocodile following a complex aerial operation involving police, authorities said.

Police said Gabriel Batista, 59, a hotel and café owner, is believed to have been swept away by violent floodwaters in the Komati River last week, a river known for heavy crocodile presence.

According to details, security forces tracked a crocodile measuring around 4.5 meters in length before a police sniper opened fire from a helicopter. The animal was then airlifted to Kruger National Park, where a subsequent examination revealed human remains inside.

Rescue teams spent several days tracking the suspected crocodile before it was killed in an attempt to recover the victim’s remains.

Police also said a ring believed to belong to Batista was found inside the crocodile, along with six pairs of shoes, raising concerns they may be linked to other possible victims.

Reports indicate Batista had been trying to cross a flooded bridge on Monday to reach his hotel and restaurant when floodwaters swept away his car and truck, carrying him into the river.

Authorities said it remains unclear whether he was alive at the time of the attack, while not ruling out the possibility that additional remains may have been lost or consumed by other predators in the area.