Posted: 16:17, November 10, 2022 | Updated: 16:17, 10 November 2022
Julio Otero Fernández, pictured, was visiting the Matina River in Limón, Costa Rica near his home and paddling in shallow, knee-deep water. The reptile took him further into the water and tragically killed him
An eight-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile that dragged him underwater as his horrified parents watched.
Julio Otero Fernández was visiting the Matina River in Limón, Costa Rica near his home and paddling in shallow, knee-deep water.
The reptile took him further into the water and tragically killed him.
His body has not yet been found by authorities, who have faced difficulties in the search in recent days due to heavy rain.
Parents Don Julio and Margini Fernández Flores plan to move to Nicaragua in an attempt to protect their four other children, aged between 3 and 16.
The devastated Don Julio and Margini also begged the authorities to find and sacrifice the reptile.
The eight-year-old’s dad said: “The hardest thing for my wife was seeing the crocodile floating with my son’s body.”
Parents Don Julio, pictured, and Margini Fernández Flores plan to move to Nicaragua in a bid to protect their four other children – aged between 3 and 16
His mom said: “It is impossible for him to continue living in Matina because in every corner of the house we find something that reminds us of Julito, which causes us a lot of pain.
“We can’t be here, because every time we remember how nice it was to have him here with us.
“It is very difficult for us, so we will have to leave here.
“I’m not going to stay here because as much as they protect these animals, they are capable of leaving the river to attack more people and the truth is that it’s scary if something like this happens again.
“My other children act strong, but one realizes that they are sad.
“Whenever we remember what happened, it’s impossible not to shed tears.”
Devastated Don Julio and Margini also pleaded with authorities to find and euthanize the reptile
Tatiana Díaz, regional director of the Limón Red Cross said: “One hypothesis is that the animal took the child to the burrow or the cave and there are burrows and caves but we don’t know which one it is, we tried to cover and visualize some, we have implemented a hook with a strip to see if it pulls anything, but to no avail.
“Because we don’t know which cave it is or which crocodile because there are several, it’s very difficult to focus on just one point.
“We know there are crocodiles and burrows, but we have no idea or plan to work with.”
It is the latest terrifying crocodile attack and comes after a drunken man was nearly washed into a lagoon in the Gulf state of Tabasco in June after attacking a reptile’s nest of eggs.
Also in June, a woman was killed while allegedly washing clothes on the shore at the same Tampico Lagoon.
Shocked onlookers saw the crocodile swimming away with the woman’s dead body in its jaws.
In October 2020, a crocodile chased a man swimming in the lagoon before pulling him under the water and killing him.
The unnamed man, believed to be in his 50s or 60s, reportedly ignored a sign warning people not to swim in the area.
