A MAN has lost his arm after a horrific alligator attack behind a bar in Port Charlotte, Florida this weekend.
The 23-year-old was attacked when he entered a pond behind the Banditos bar, according to wildlife officials.
NBC2A man lost his arm in an alligator outside a bar in Port Charlotte, Florida[/caption]
WINKThe attack happened outside Banditos bar around 1.45 in the morning[/caption]
NBC2The alligator was eventually captured by wildlife officials[/caption]
Manny Hidalgo was inside the bar when he heard the screaming near the water and went outside to go investigate.
“He was yelling and swimming toward the shoreline,” Hidalgo told The Daily Sun, describing how he entered the gator-infested waters to save the man from the 10-foot animal.
“I ran and dragged him up onto the sand. I was scared to get close to the water because it was dark out.”
He said that he was still in shock from the encounter, admitting that he was terrified when he entered the water.
“He was a pretty big guy. I’m not sure how I did it. I guess my adrenaline kicked in…I don’t know if it was a mama gator trying to save her young, or a daddy gator trying to feed his family … but the guy was very lucky.”
The man was transported to Gulf Coast Hospital by helicopter but his arm could not be saved and was eventually amputated, said Todd Dunn, a spokesman for Charlotte County Fire and EMS.
Mark Christenson, who has lived in the area for years, said that it’s not a secrete that alligators are in the water.
“We’ve seen gators back here, and we hear ’em croaking,” he told WINK News. “There’s a bunch of cat tails and reeds in the back that are run down. And that means gators. So there’s been a big boy back here for a while.”
Ron Williams told the outlet that he was at Banditos Bar around 1.45am, just before it closed.
“We heard screaming. I just so happened to walk out on the porch. About the same time and just a group of people came running up in a panic, you can see it on their face, and said, somebody’s got their arm bit off,” he said.
“And we’re trying to figure out what to do to help, but apparently, they already dragged him out of the water and called for help. And they showed up pretty quick and got him out. Got him somewhere and medivac him apparently.”
A trapper was able to capture the gator from the property, said wildlife officials.
“The goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Hailee Seely in a news release.
“SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property.”
More to follow…For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at Sun Online.The-sun.com is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheUSSun.
Spread the love & Comment on Social Media !