Crocodile attack horror unfolds as couple tries to save victim: ‘We felt so helpless’

A California mates who tried to rescue a tourer during a deadly crocodile onslaught is informing travelers astir unsafe swimming conditions successful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The onslaught occurred astir 6:30 p.m. section clip connected Friday, June 26, the Jalisco State Police (JSP) confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Jamie Yetter and her fiancé, Chris Bury, saw the onslaught unfold portion they were swimming nearby. They attempted to assistance the victim, who was identified arsenic Irving Mauricio, 28, of Mexico City.

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"We were astatine the excavation erstwhile we heard immoderate screams down astatine the h2o … We thought helium was conscionable stuck successful the rip current," Bury told Fox News Digital.

Yetter and Bury, of Orange County, were some connected aquatics teams and are utilized to pulling radical retired of rip currents, she said. 

Jamie Yetter and her fiancé, Chris Bury, tried to rescue a tourer during a deadly crocodile onslaught successful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The couple, pictured above, were connected a household travel celebrating a precocious schoolhouse graduation. (Jamie Yetter and Chris Bury)

When Bury got successful the water, radical warned him determination was a crocodile. 

"I saw that [the victim] was benignant of struggling," helium recalled. "There was … nary 1 astir that could assistance prevention him."

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Bury, 48, rapidly grabbed a kayak, but determination were nary oars. 

"I laid connected my tummy and paddled with my hands to get retired there," helium recounted.

Meanwhile, Yetter and her girl were connected the formation and watched the incidental unfold.

The 12-foot-crocodile (not pictured), that attacked a man, has been captured by officials. (Orlando Ramirez)

"Every clip the antheral would resurface, [he] was deeper and deeper into the ocean," she said.

Yetter, 42, wanted to tally into the h2o and help, but she disquieted determination could beryllium different crocodiles successful the water, she said.

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"It was truthful gruesome and graphic. I saw [him] being taken nether by the crocodile implicit and over," Yetter recounted.

A informing motion astatine the formation alerts visitors to crocodiles and different marine wildlife. (Chris Bury and Jamie Yetter)

She said the 12-foot crocodile was "massive," noting "his caput was arsenic agelong arsenic my torso, his process thicker than my legs."

"It was perfectly horrible. We felt truthful helpless," she said.

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A hunt and determination cognition was implemented successful coordination with the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), the Directorate of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Puerto Vallarta, and the State Unit of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Jalisco, the Jalisco State Police told Fox News Digital.

The hunt cognition lasted done the night, and the victim's assemblage was discovered astatine astir 7 a.m. Saturday, the constabulary confirmed. The crocodile was besides captured.

Local experts and researchers estimated past twelvemonth that the Puerto Vallarta region, pictured here, had astir 200 to 250 American crocodiles. (iStock)

The victim's mother, Claudia Mauricio, expressed her grief successful a connection posted online.

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"I lone inquire God that connected the time I permission this world, I whitethorn find you again and that you whitethorn greet maine with that beauteous grin you ever had for me," she said. "You volition ever unrecorded successful my heart."

The constabulary confirmed to Fox News Digital that the formation was not closed aft the incident.

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It is an unfastened formation for tourists, and it typically remains open, the constabulary said.

In July 2025, lifeguards captured different 12-foot crocodile, not pictured, connected a confederate Puerto Vallarta beach. (Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu Agency)

In the areas adjacent the mouths of the rivers and the estuary, determination is imperishable signage with warnings and restrictive cordoning, the constabulary noted.

There has been accrued treatment astir crocodiles successful the portion since July 2025, erstwhile lifeguards captured a 12-foot crocodile connected a confederate Puerto Vallarta beach, according to Mexico News Daily.

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Local experts estimated past twelvemonth that the Puerto Vallarta portion — particularly astir Boca de Tomatlán and Boca Negra — has astir 200 to 250 American crocodiles, the quality outlet reported.