The attack, which the couple described as 'traumatizing,' occurred in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Friday, June 26

NEED TO KNOW

• A California couple tried to rescue a man fatally attacked by a crocodile while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• The couple used a kayak to reach the victim, but said the crocodile was massive and the water murky
• Warning signs about crocodiles were posted near the beach where the attack occurred, according to the couple

A California couple tried to save a tourist from a fatal crocodile attack while on vacation in Mexico.

The attack occurred at Marina Vallarta Beach near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa around 6:30 p.m. local time on Friday, June 26, NBC Los Angeles and ABC7 Los Angeles reported, citing the Jalisco State Police (JSP).

Jamie Yetter and her fiancé, Chris Bury, from Orange County, witnessed the attack as they went for a swim nearby and tried to help the man, identified as 28-year-old Irving from Mexico City.

“We just finished an evening walk … and we jumped in the pool and from the pool we heard screaming down at the beach,” Yetter told NBCLA. “Chris and I are strong swimmers; we're from Southern California [and] … so we jumped out the pool to see what was going on.”

“We thought we saw a guy stuck in a rip current. Chris took off down to the water and I ran right after him,” Yetter recalled.

The couple said they got a kayak and went out into the water after the man. 

“We kayaked out to try and grab him,” Bury told NBCLA. “There were no oars; there was really nothing at the beach at all that helped. We were just kind of scrambling, trying to do what we could [and then] he got pulled under.” 

Yetter described the crocodile as very large, making their efforts at saving the man increasingly difficult and dangerous.

"The crocodile had him by the thigh, and he would turn, and the size of this crocodile, I mean, his head was as long as my torso, his tail thicker than my legs. He was just turning him, taking him under," she told ABC7.

"He went down, and then, at that point, he stayed down," said Bury. "So I was over top of him, but the water was so murky, and you couldn't even see a foot down.”

“By the time I got to him, it was unfortunately too late,” he continued. "It's pretty traumatizing.”

The victim's remains were recovered 12 hours later, early on the morning of Saturday, June 27, the JSP confirmed to NBCLA.

Irving was on vacation with a group of friends at the time of the attack, ABC7 reported, citing local authorities. 

According to Yetter, there were warning signs leading to the beach from the hotel warning of jellyfish, stingrays and crocodiles in the area, per NBCLA.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

PEOPLE has reached out to the JSP and Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa for comment.

Source link