Current:Home > FinanceCrocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando -FundGuru
Crocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando
View
Date:2025-04-13 10:10:03
A man was injured after being in a rare crocodile attack in the Everglades National Park in Florida on the same day as another man lost his hand in an alligator attack outside Orlando.
A 68-year-old man capsized his boat and was swimming to shore at the Flamingo Marina in the Everglades when witnesses saw him go under water on Sunday, the National Park Service said in a Monday news release.
The man was able to get to safety, and park rangers immediately treated him for a cut on his leg. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition, the park service said.
“Rangers and park biologists are continuing to investigate the incident and monitor the suspected crocodile, which is easily identifiable,” the agency said.
Watch:9-foot crocodile closes Florida beach to swimmers in 'very scary' sighting
Are there crocodiles in Florida?
Yes! Florida is the only place in the U.S. that American crocodiles live in the wild, according to the wildlife commission.
They are considered a conservation success story, as the population has grown to about 2,000 since 1975, when there were only a few hundred living adults. It is still considered a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The crocodile tends to be shy and stick to brackish or salt water, one of its main differences with alligators, which live in fresh water. Crocodiles also tend to be greyish green with pointed snouts, while alligators tend to be black with rounded snouts, according to SeaWorld.
There are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida.
Florida man lost his hand in alligator attack
A man was airlifted to the hospital after a roughly 9-foot alligator bit off his hand while fishing in a retirement community outside of Orlando on Sunday.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had not released the man's identity as of Monday, but a neighbor told the Daily Commercial, part of the USA TODAY Network, what she saw.
Sally Priest said she saw the man's arm in the alligator’s mouth and that the creature was rolling on the bank.
Experts call it a “death roll.”
Alligator attack:Creature bites off man's hand in Leesburg retirement community
Rescuers cut open gator to try to save detached hand
“I knew he was in trouble so I ran to call 911,” Priest said.
The alligator stopped its attack and went back into the water. A large crowd gathered to help the injured man.
His hand and part of his arm had been bitten off, she said.
A licensed trapper was called, who captured and killed the alligator. The gator was cut open so the victim's hand could be retrieved, but one of the rescue workers speculated that it could not be reattached.
“I feel so bad for the man,” Priest said.
veryGood! (96926)
Related
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Illinois election board to consider whether to boot Trump from ballot over insurrection amendment
- Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva received a 4-year ban. Her team's Olympic gold medal could go to Team USA.
- A sex educator on the one question she is asked the most: 'Am I normal?'
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- X curbs searches for Taylor Swift following viral sexually explicit AI images
- Arkansas authorities capture man charged with murder who escaped local jail
- Spain’s lawmakers are to vote on a hugely divisive amnesty law for Catalan separatists
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Pakistani court convicts jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan of revealing secrets ahead of elections
Ranking
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Afraid of AI? Here's how to get started and use it to make your life easier
- X restores Taylor Swift searches after deepfake explicit images triggered temporary block
- Democratic lawmaker promotes bill aimed at improving student transportation across Kentucky
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Better Call Saul's Bob Odenkirk Shocked to Learn He's Related to King Charles III
- T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s Exes Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig Have Rare Airport Outing
- Man who served longest wrongful conviction in U.S. history files lawsuit against police
Recommendation
Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
It's so Detroit: Lions' first Super Bowl was in sight before a meltdown for the ages
Police reviewing social media video as probe continues into fatal shooting that wounded officer
New Mexico is automating how it shares info about arrest warrants
Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
Global anti-corruption efforts are faltering, partly due to a ‘decline in justice,’ survey finds
Chiefs coach Andy Reid expects Kadarius Toney back at practice after rant on social media
WWE's CM Punk suffered torn triceps at Royal Rumble, will miss WrestleMania 40