An Orange County couple said they tried to reach the victim before he was pulled underwater.
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO — A 28-year-old man from Mexico City was killed Friday evening when a crocodile attacked him near a beach in Puerto Vallarta, as an Orange County couple tried to rescue him.
The attack has drawn new attention to safety along Marina Vallarta Beach, a tourist area near hotels, a marina and natural habitat where crocodiles are known to live. Jalisco state authorities said the man was dragged into the water during the attack. Search crews recovered his body Saturday morning after an overnight search by land and sea. The victim was identified in local accounts only as Irving.
The attack happened June 26 near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa. Jamie Yetter and her fiancé, Chris Bury, of San Clemente, California, said they were near a pool with family when they heard screams coming from the beach. At first, they thought the man was caught in a rip current. Bury ran toward the water and found a kayak without paddles. “There were no oars. There was really nothing at the beach at all to help,” Bury said. “We were just scrambling, trying to do what we could.”
Bury said he tried to reach the man with the kayak and a life preserver, but the victim appeared unable to grab it. The water was murky, and the crocodile pulled the man under before rescuers could get him out. Yetter said the couple did not know at first that a crocodile was involved. “We just finished an evening walk, and we jumped in the pool and from the pool we heard screaming down at the beach,” Yetter said. The couple described the attack as traumatizing.
Jalisco State Police said the victim was on the beach in front of the resort when the crocodile attacked and dragged him out to sea. Authorities said the attack happened around 6 p.m. local time, though witnesses placed it closer to 6:30 p.m. The body was recovered Saturday morning about 300 meters offshore after crews searched the coast through the night. Local reports said the crocodile believed to be involved was found near Boca de Tomates, an area north of the attack site.
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s best-known beach destinations, and crocodiles are part of the coastal ecosystem in parts of the area, especially near river mouths, estuaries and lagoons. Marina Vallarta Beach is near habitats where the reptiles may move between freshwater and saltwater. Signs in the area warn of dangerous animals, including crocodiles, jellyfish and stingrays, according to accounts from witnesses and local reporting. The warning signs have become a focus of concern after the attack.
Yetter said she was troubled that the beach did not appear to be closed the next morning. She said people were still near the water hours after the attack, and she believed visitors were not given enough direct warning about the danger. “They didn’t tell anyone it was dangerous,” Yetter said. “They didn’t tell us we shouldn’t go swimming.” The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa had not issued a public statement on the attack or questions about beach safety as of Monday.
Authorities described the attack as rare but not without precedent in the area. In 2022, two tourists from Colorado were bitten by a crocodile in Puerto Vallarta after one person entered the water at night and another tried to help, according to earlier reports. Local officials have since repeated warnings about staying alert in places where crocodiles may be present. After Friday’s death, authorities said patrols were being increased in some beach and estuary areas.
No criminal charges had been announced as of Monday, and officials had not released the victim’s full name. The next steps center on the official report, confirmation of the animal involved and any changes to beach patrols or warning systems. Local emergency workers, civil protection crews and marine rescue teams were involved in the search. Authorities have not said whether the beach will face new restrictions or whether more signs will be added.
The rescue attempt left the Orange County couple shaken. Bury said he got close enough to see the man struggling, but the attack moved too quickly. Yetter said the scene stayed with them after the search ended. Their account spread across Southern California news outlets over the weekend as officials in Jalisco continued to respond to the death. The victim had reportedly been visiting Puerto Vallarta with friends.
As of Monday, June 29, the man’s body had been recovered, and officials said patrols had been expanded in areas where crocodiles are known to move. Authorities had not announced a final investigative finding or a full public safety review.
Author note: Last updated June 29, 2026.