Rescuers had to use a rope tied to a pickup truck to pull the enraged camel off the body of Richard Mileski of Chicago, Illinois, according to Tulum Civil Defense official Alberto Canto.
He said Mileski was 70 years old and the attack took place on Monday. Other sources said Mileski was 60.
"The camel kicked and bit him practically to death, and when he was almost dead, he sat on him," said Canto. "Between the blows and the weight of the camel on top of him, he was asphyxiated."
"One version is that he would always give him a Coca-Cola to drink, and apparently, that day he didn't give him the Coca-Cola," Canto said, adding, "there are a lot of versions."
The US Embassy confirmed the man's name, and said he died yesterday, adding "we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends." A sanctuary employee said Mileski died Monday.
Mexico's Attorney General's office for Environmental Protection said late Tuesday that the camel, 13 spider monkeys, six deer, two emus, two llamas and a wild boar were placed under seizure orders, but were being kept at the sanctuary pending investigation.
The facility is located on a road between Tulum and the nearby Maya ruin site of Coba. The office gave the name as Tulum Monkey Jungle.
It said the animals "will be held by the manager of the facility in administrative custody," meaning they can't leave the park but will be cared for.
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