Alligator, more than 9 feet long, bites off man's hand in Leesburg retirement community
LEESBURG — A man fishing in the Pennbrooke Fairways retirement community was attacked by a 9-foot-3-inch alligator Sunday and airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center with serious injuries to his hand.
Lake County Emergency Medical Services Center responded to the call at about 2 p.m.
The man’s identity and many of the details have not been released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “This is an ongoing investigation,” said Kristen Turner with the agency.
However, the Daily Commercial was able to speak to Sally Priest, who lives on Grand Vista Trail and witnessed the attack.
“I was out on my lanai and had just sat down to check my emails when I heard, 'No, no, no!' ”
“I called to my husband because I thought someone might be harassing the gators. People throw things at the alligators.”
She 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.”
“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.
Priest said the man was in his 20s and was either visiting his mother or staying with her. He was restoring an antique car and decided to take a break and go fishing.
The Daily Commercial is seeking confirmation before publishing his name.
There are signs warning residents to be aware of the dangers.
An email circulating within the park states that the man may have been trying to unhook a fish from his line when the alligator attacked.
“I feel so bad for the man,” Priest said.
People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1-866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and the agency will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.
Safety tips include keeping small children and pets away from the edge of waterways, swimming only during daylight hours, and never feeding an alligator. That’s when the creatures lose their natural fear of humans.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 9-foot alligator bites man's hand off in Leesburg, Florida
