Hero mum may have been killed by croc that tore her leg off rather than shark as she saved daughter, 5, yards off beach

A HERO mum who saved her five-year-old from a shark attack may have been killed by a crocodile instead.

A young mum had her leg torn off as she swam her daughter off a Mexican beach.

2

Maria Fernandez Martinez Jimenez, 26, was just 65ft from the shore when she was savaged by a beast at Melaque Beach in the state of Jalisco.

The tourist was helped to safety as rescue crews rushed to the scene following the attack on Saturday.

Initially, the fatal incident was put down as a shark attack, but now the authorities suspect it could have been a crocodile.

Local residents claim there had never been sightings of sharks approaching humans in the area.

In a graphic footage, Maria appears to be lying on the sand surrounded by the terrified bystanders.

The onlookers could be heard screaming “She’s lost her leg” as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

Despite the quick response from doctors, the young mother died of blood loss from the massive bite wound.

Civil Protection…