Costa Rica is in mourning. Soccer player Jesús López Ortiz, 29, a player for Deportivo Río Cañas in the Liga Ascenso and popularly known as Chucho, died in the town of Santa Cruz de Guanacaste after being attacked by a crocodile while bathing in the Cañas River.
The soccer player was going to his cousin's house when he decided to cool off in the waters of the river, at which time he was surprised by the reptile, as revealed by the team's coach, Luis Montes, for the local newspaper La Teja. "Unfortunately, he made a wrong decision and by going in for a bath, what happened happened," he lamented.
Several witnesses explained to the local police that Chucho "was exercising at the time" and decided to take a bath. As the sergeant told the AFP agency, it was then that he “jumped off a bridge into the Cañas River.
Deportivo Río Cañas confirmed Chucho's death through an official statement, and replicated the announcement in a message on social networks: "With deep pain we make public the death of our player Jesús López Ortiz (Chucho) may God enjoy. Rest well At Paz Chucho, we share the pain of his entire family. We will miss you. You take a part of everyone, dear friend. Today is a very difficult day for all of us and we will remember you in the many facets of your sporting life as a coach, soccer player and also as a father of a family. You will always live in our hearts Chucho. Fly high".
The team called on fans and neighbors to pay tribute to Chucho. As published by Deportivo Río Cañas on its official networks, about a thousand people went to the field to support the family of the deceased and say a last goodbye.
Chucho was the father of two children, Derian and Eithan, aged eight and three, respectively, and wore the number 10 on his back. “He was from a very humble family, as we all are in Río Cañas. He was a very helpful boy, always willing to collaborate in the town, very polite and calm, ”said the coach.
"As a footballer he was terrific, the town always recognized his talent, his leadership on the field, his way of playing, he was a benchmark for Río Cañas football, it's a loss for the whole town," he concluded.
