A 23-year-old man who was swimming in a pond in the town of Port Charlotte, in southwestern Florida (USA), was bitten by a 3.20 meter long alligator and needed to be airlifted to a hospitalwhere they had to amputate an arm, local media reported on Monday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, when the young man, whose identity was not revealed, was swimming in a pond near the local Banditos Bar, in Port Charlotte, and was attacked by an alligator, local channel Fox4 picked up today.
The victim was airlifted to Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers with serious injuries from the alligator attack, injuries that required amputation of one arm.
Hours later, an expert trapper located, captured and euthanized the animal, added.
Last April, another Florida man lost part of his right leg after being attacked by an alligator at a park in Brevard County on the east coast.
The attack occurred at the Titusville RV park, and as a result of the injuries, doctors had to amputate his right leg below the knee.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), whose website keeps Floridians and visitors informed about precautionary measures about the alligators, he’s investigating the incident.
The FWC cautioned that alligators are typically most visible and active during the spring and summer seasons.
Data released by the FWC in 2022 shows that there were 9 major and 2 minor alligator bites statewide that year, and no fatal attacks.