Man, 28, Killed by Crocodile in Puerto Vallarta as California Family Tries to Save Him

A 28-year-old man was killed by a crocodile at a popular beach in Puerto Vallarta on Friday evening as a family from California tried to save him.

The attack happened around 6:30 p.m. at Marina Vallarta Beach near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa.

The Attack

Jalisco state police said the victim was a 28-year-old Mexican man who was in Puerto Vallarta for work. His body was recovered early Saturday morning, roughly 12 hours after the attack.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as people initially believed the man was caught in a rip current.

California Family’s Rescue Attempt

Jamie Yetter, her fiancé Chris Bury, and her teenage daughter were staying at the Marriott and were by the pool when they heard screams coming from the beach.

Bury jumped into a paddle-less kayak in an attempt to reach the man. Yetter said they initially thought he was struggling in a rip current.

“There were no oars. There was really nothing at the beach at all to help. We were just scrambling, trying to do what we could,” Bury told NBC Los Angeles.

The family later learned they had witnessed a crocodile attack.

Warning Signs Overlooked

Yetter noted that warning signs near the beach mention crocodiles, but the family initially mistook the crocodile image for an iguana.

By Saturday morning, beachgoers were reportedly swimming in the same area again.

The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa has not yet issued a public statement about the incident.

Previous Incidents

The attack occurred near the site of a 2022 crocodile attack that injured two tourists from Colorado in the same region.

Key Takeaways

• A 28-year-old man was killed by a crocodile at Marina Vallarta Beach in Puerto Vallarta.

• A family from San Clemente, California tried to rescue him after mistaking the attack for a rip current.

• The victim’s body was recovered 12 hours later.

• Warning signs at the beach mention crocodiles, but the family initially thought the symbol was an iguana.

• A similar crocodile attack occurred in the area in 2022.

Sources

• New York Post — Horror as man, 28, is killed by a crocodile in Puerto Vallarta

• NBC Los Angeles — Southern California family recounts deadly crocodile attack

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