The RCMP says a story about a young man from B.C. on holiday in Cancun, Mexico, who was kidnapped outside a bar, forced to fight two other tourists, shot in the shoulder and dumped in the water where he was attacked by crocodiles, is a fabrication.

'The details of this story were troubling from the beginning.'—RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Pound

The Hollywood-style story was reported by at least one major television news program in B.C. earlier this week, based on unconfirmed claims made by the man's family members.

CBC News contacted the man's family on Wednesday, who insisted the story was true, but Mexican authorities would not confirm any of the details.

Then on Thursday, Richmond RCMP said that after speaking to Mexican authorities about the report, they determined the family's story was untrue.

Piddle in wrong puddle

RCMP said the incident began when a 20-year-old man decided to urinate in a crocodile lagoon in the resort area of Cancun, despite signs in English and Spanish warning of its toothy inhabitants. Alcohol was a factor, police said.

The man apparently was bitten on the leg by a small crocodile and fell on the rocks in the water, where he was attacked by some other 30-centimetre crocodiles, said Cpl. Jennifer Pound, in a statement released on Thursday.

Small crocodiles are capable of causing injury, but would not be able to drag someone under water, said Pound.

The man was taken to hospital where he received basic first aid for his injuries and refused further treatment. He later returned to Richmond where he was checked out by local hospital staff and released.

'False accusations' harmful: police

Neither the man or his family has yet to comment publicly on the story, but police said it was important to set the record straight.

"The details of this story were troubling from the beginning. It was absolutely necessary to get to the bottom of it in order to advise the public of a more truthful depiction of events," said Pound.

"These kinds of false accusations can be detrimental to a country such as Mexico that thrive on tourism. If tourists are too scared to travel because of false information, then we are doing that country a disservice if we don't seek clarification," she said.

Several other crocodile attacks on intoxicated tourists who have gone for swims in a lagoon in Cancun have been reported in recent years.