A body was sighted Friday floating in the ocean 124 kilometers north of Progreso, Yucatán, near Isla Pérez. But before officials could recover the cadaver, it was devoured by sharks.

The body, which was in a state of decomposition and missing its legs, was first spotted by fishermen, who reported the finding to the Yucalpetén naval base. The navy informed the state Ministry of Public Security, which dispatched a team to recover the body.

However, before the team could do so, sharks attacked it and pulled it under the water, which SSP officials recorded on video. They were able to recover some body parts, giving them hints to the man’s identity.

From what officials could see, the body was that of a bearded man with tattoos. Though no fishermen have been reported missing in the area, the body was presumed to belong to a fisherman who fell overboard three days ago, according to rumor.

With reports from La Verdad Noticias, El Universal