Shocking footage from South Africa shows the moment authorities airlifted a massive crocodile suspected of swallowing a missing businessman whole, before cutting the animal open and discovering human remains inside.

Police say the remains are believed to belong to 59-year-old businessman Gabriel Batista, who disappeared after being swept away by raging floodwaters earlier this week.

The horrifying discovery was made after authorities used drones to track a large crocodile behaving suspiciously in the river where Batista vanished.

According to local reports, officers suspected the reptile had consumed the missing man after spotting unusual activity from above.

The crocodile was subsequently shot and hoisted away by helicopter in dramatic scenes captured on video.

Footage circulating online shows the enormous reptile suspended beneath the aircraft as crowds watched the grim recovery operation unfold.

But the most disturbing part came after the crocodile was brought back to land.

Authorities reportedly sliced the animal open and discovered human remains inside, along with Batista’s ring, which helped investigators identify the victim.

Even more chilling, police also allegedly found six additional pairs of shoes inside the crocodile’s stomach.

Officials now fear the footwear could belong to other victims swept into the dangerous floodwaters over time.

Batista had reportedly attempted to drive across a flooded bridge on Monday while trying to reach his hotel and bar during severe weather conditions.

According to reports, his truck was swept away by powerful currents after entering the flooded crossing.

Investigators believe Batista was dragged downstream into crocodile-infested waters after being pulled from the vehicle.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Batista was alive when the crocodile attacked him or whether he had already died from the floodwaters before being consumed.

Police also reportedly believe portions of his remains may have been scattered or eaten by other crocodiles in the river.

The horrifying case has shocked many online, particularly after the revelation that multiple pairs of shoes were allegedly found inside the animal.

Some viewers described the discovery as “nightmare fuel,” while others pointed to the dangers posed by flooded rivers and crocodile habitats during severe storms.

South Africa is home to large populations of Nile crocodiles, one of the most aggressive crocodile species in the world, capable of attacking and consuming large prey.

The viral footage of the helicopter transporting the reptile has since spread rapidly across social media, where many users said the entire sequence felt like something out of a horror movie.

For investigators, however, the grim operation may have provided crucial answers in the disappearance of a man whose final moments ended in one of the most terrifying ways imaginable.