Hurricane Ida: Man missing after alligator bites off his arm in This story has been shared 153,567 times. 02:13 - Source: WFTS Latest Videos 17 videos Drone footage captures. "He will no longer be able to do the work he loves, and many other things he loved doing," his aunt Evelyn James wrote in a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, titled 'my nephew the born survivor, gets attacked.'. Last month a Brandon man was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa when an alligator bit him on the face, according to a statement from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) obtained by PEOPLE. A birthday party at a Utah reptile park turned into a horrible experience for the children, when an alligator bit the handler's hand and dragged her into its enclosure. The incident happened in late October around a . The clip has garnered more than 2K likes. He can be also heard screaming while scrambling out. However, the ordeal with the alligator was just the beginning. If youre laughing, were laughing. Merda told the outlet that he spotted his truck across a body of water and jumped into the water figuring he could swim to his vehicle. Gator bites man hunting at Florida lake - WESH 'She snapped her head so my arm with backwards like this completely,' he said. But Fred Boyce bit off more than he could chew; as he approached the beast, the alligator viciously attacked him, nearly ripping off his arm. It turned out to be "not the smartest decision a Florida boy could make," Merda told Florida news station 10 Tampa Bay on September 5. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Bones poking out, muscles, if I try to move my fingers, you could see it twitching, he struggled to recall. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation said the . A young man trying to avoid Lakeland police lost his arm to an alligator in a lake Wednesday evening.\r\r\rThe ABC Action News app brings you the latest trusted news and information.\r\rABC Action News is Taking Action For You with leading local news coverage, \"Certified Most Accurate\" weather forecasts, and award-winning I-Team investigations. Merda spent three fruitless days meandering around the dismal swamp, trying to find an exit.I felt like I was walking in circles, I didnt know, Merda said. Officials say an alligator bit off part of a golfer's arm as he leaned over to pick up his ball at a private South Carolina course. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. ", FLORIDA MAN WITH HUSTLE EAT SLEEP REPEAT TATTOO CHARGED WITH THROWING HOT DOG AT POLICE OFFICER, Eric Merda, 43, lost his arm to an alligator while swimming in Florida lake (Fox 13 Tampa Bay). I'm thriving. The 45-year-old trainer was performing a stunt at the Phokkathara zoo in Chiang Rai. All rights reserved. "They could not save the arm," Dunn said. Between 1948 and 2021, there were 442 unprovoked bite incidents in the state, 26 of which were fatal. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 'And there's nothing, no words can describe it, you know.'. The man was being treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Man loses part of arm after bitten by 12-foot alligator - WFTV A Florida man has lost a portion of his right leg after he was reportedly attacked by an alligator at an RV park in Brevard County. FLORIDA MAN WIELDING MACHETE DEAD AFTER BREAKING INTO HOME, TELLING SLEEPING RESIDENT 'I LOVE YOU', Lake Manatee Fish Camp, Myakka City Florida (Fox 13 Tampa Bay), "I'm thriving," Merda said. Only 13 fatalities were recorded nationally since 2000, and none was in Louisiana. Man running from Lakeland police gets arm bitten off by gator Eric Merda, 43, says he had just finished an irrigation job in July in Parrish Florida when he decided to stop at Lake Manatee Fish Camp to throw away trash which resulted in him getting lost in the woods, WTVT-TV reported. Alligator bites off arm of Okeechobee man - Sun Sentinel She managed to pulled him away from the animal before running to call for help but was forced to take a boat due to the high waters and lack of cell service, WWL-TV reported. On July 17, Eric Merda was swimming across Lake. 'I didn't know if he was dead or alive when I first walked upon him,' the rescuer said. "Leave them gators alone" - that's the advice from a Florida man who lost his arm to one of the huge reptiles after he took the questionable decision to swim across a lake. BENGALURU, INDIA An Indian engineer is learning the hard way that even after you have been mauled by crocodiles trying to rescue your pet, the government w. March 29, 2021 12:15 pm ET. The man was golfing at the Ocean Creek Golf Course when his ball went into a nearby pond. SLIDELL, La. He said he spent three days trying to find his way out of the swamp. The men were able to insert two additional harpoons into the alligator before grabbing more line to raise it to the surface to harvest it, according to the report. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Last modified on Wed 15 Mar 2023 14.01 EDT. Officials are warning residents not to feed alligators which is not only illegal but can also cause alligators to be more aggressive toward people and associate them with food availability. Finally, Merda said he encountered a man on the other side of a fence who asked him what he was doing. Market data provided by Factset. HOMELESS FLORIDA MAN TAKES STOLEN CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ON JOYRIDE, LEAVES PATH OF DESTRUCTION: POLICE, Florida alligator being trapped by wildlife officials (Fox 13 Tampa Bay). Garca looked to be in pain and shook his right arm a bit . All rights reserved. October 9, 2009 / 1:08 PM / AP. On 1 February 2018, the dubious web site World News Daily Report published a fake news article about a Greenpeace activist who had his arm bitten off by a shark after they tried to give it a hug . They estimated the gator to be about 12 feet in length, according to the Seminole County Sheriffs Office. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Merdas alligator encounter on July 21. After a gator bit Eric Merdas arm off while swimming in Lake Manatee, he spent three exhausting days on the swamp with one arm, Tampas WTSP reports. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. Eric Merda, a 43-year-old Sarasota resident, fell victim to the alligator after he decided to take a swim at Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City on July 17. \r\rABC Action News, WFTS, covers local news in Tampa Bay and Florida. "At first, I . Man had arm bitten off in alligator attack before getting lost in I was given the opportunity to make a chance, and I decided to live. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Florida Man Survives Three Days in Woods After Alligator Bites Off Arm The commission, Seminole County Sheriffs Office and fire and rescue teams responded to the incident. Market data provided by Factset. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Heres hoping the in the coming days we dont see too much of an increase in that, folks stay safe, and demolished areas start to be rebuilt. A man who was diving for shark teeth was bitten in the head by a nine-foot alligator and he survived the attack. SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) A Sarasota man spent three days lost in a swamp after losing his arm in a gator attack. SLIDELL, La. He bent down to pick up his ball, and an alligator bit off his forearm. "He's got a long way to go, lots of surgery. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year. An alligator attacking a man swimming in a lake in Florida was captured by drone footage. MYAKKA CITY, Fla. ( WWSB /Gray News) - A man lost a large part of his arm when was bitten by an alligator while swimming in a Florida lake. Six weeks later, Weatherholt faces a second-degree misdemeanor charge of feeding the alligator. A Louisiana Man Had His Arm Bitten Off By An Alligator Walking In The comments below have not been moderated, By Witnesses told police that three of them were alligator hunting on the side side of Lake Jesup when they caught an alligator by a snatch line. When Satterlees wife heard splashing Monday, she walked outside their home to see the gator attacking her husband, officials said. FOX NEWS - A 71-year-old Louisiana man was most likely killed during an alligator attack in which his arm was bitten off in the floodwaters of Hurricane Ida, according to media reports. One day after Merda was rescued, Florida Fish and Wildlife told the outlet that a contractor had removed two alligators from the artificial reservoir a six-foot and a nine-foot alligator. "But it's kind of a hike to get to it, and there is no supervision there.". A Florida man who says he was attacked by an alligator is in good spirits despite losing an arm and finding himself stranded in a swamp for three days. The towels, toys and other gear that still dotted the beach Thursday testified to the spot's popularity with area kids. Florida man survives THREE DAYS in swamp after alligator bites off arm 'He was in a lot of pain. or redistributed. Describing the grisly state of his arm, he told 10 Tampa Bay he could see bones and muscles exposed. An alligator trapper was dispatched to the scene, but it is not known if the animal which attacked Merda was found. Shane Richins, the company's owner, said in an interview Monday that the handler was opening the enclosure to feed the the 8-foot gator named "Darth Gator" as usual, but this time the . Alligator Bites Handler at Zoo, Guests Jump in to Help - TMZ Published on April 17, 2023 03:56 PM. Florida man bitten in arm by alligator - KIRO 7 News Seattle Donnie Wiseman was visiting the Scales and Tails petting zoo in. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) there are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in the state that inhabit all wild areas that can support them. Search crews have used a cadaver dog in their search for the victim, St. Tammany Parish sheriffs Capt. FORT MYERS-NAPLES, Fla. -- An attempt to remove an alligator found at a Florida home led to a man with a bite to his arm. Man attacked by alligator after trying to trap it with a towel | Travel 9-foot alligator bites man's head, he miraculously survives A man nearly had his arm severed after being bitten by an alligator in Seminole County.Officials said the man was hunting alligators at Lake Jesup Thursday evening when he was bitten.One of the . Do not feed the gators and you guys know who you are, throwing rocks at them, Ive seen it on the job sites, leave them gators alone, Merda cautions. Feeding alligators can also decrease their fear of people and lead to attacks, Kinler said. 1:08 A petting zoo thanked a man for his heroism after he jumped on an alligator to save a handler who was caught in its jaws. One of the alligators attacks him and bites down on his arm. The video shared online claims to show an unfortunate accident where a Crocodile (or alligator) bites off the head of a Bungee jumper! 2023 Cox Media Group. Man's arm bitten off by alligator at SC golf course Eric Merda, 43, from Sarasota, was visiting the Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City on July 17 when he got lost. Merda managed to swim back to shore and started to walk in search of help. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We've received your submission. Video Claim The video claiming to show a Bungee jumper's head bitten off by a Crocodile has been circulating via email and social networking & video sharing sites for several years. "Im actually thriving. As of right now, the victims name has not been disclosed. Eric Merda, a. "It's too bad someone didn't contact us to get it out of there.". "I looked over and there was a gator and I went to swim, like Olympic-style swim, and she grab my arm from the outside," the 43-year-old told the station. The above-displayed photographs have been linked to an October 2009 incident in which a 10-foot alligator bit off the arm of a 77-year-old South . Authorities are still looking for a 71-year-old Louisiana man who went missing after an alligator tore his arm off inside his shed, which was flooded during Hurricane Ida. "It's do or die," Merda explained. He was talking to us and everything. Funck was in stable condition Thursday, Dunn said. They cut the harpoon lines and looked for a residence to stop for help. Font Size: One woman has gone viral for her interaction with a massive alligator. Bizarre moment SUV is spotted with a MONSTER 11-foot gator strapped to its rear on a Florida interstate, Florida woman, 77, is attacked by 7ft alligator as she stood near pond in gated community. "I was reborn for a reason, and I believe that is to motivate people.". Lance Vitter said Thursday. Merda was eventually airlifted to a hospital where doctors amputated his arm, according to the station. According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office: When she [..] realized the severity of his injuries, she immediately got into her pirogue and went to higher ground, which was approximately a mile away, to get help. Sarasota man found naked with arm gone after gator attack, witnesses say. Florida Fish and Wildlife said that a contracted alligator trapper removed a six-foot and nine-foot alligator from the lake on the day after the Merda attack, WFLA-TV reported. Merda was immediately flown to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where doctors amputated the remnants of his arm. So I followed the sun and power lines, stuff I could see. On the third day, he found a fence and someone on the other side. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Yet there have been two so far in the Tampa area. A man in Florida who managed to survive for three days lost in the woods after an alligator tore off his arm has spoken about his ordeal two months after the attack. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah A 31-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator she's worked with for many years bit her hand and pulled her into the water at a traveling reptile show in West Valley City. Legal Statement. An enormous alligator, dubbed "Big Joe" by residents, attacked Funck, biting off his arm at the shoulder and sparking a scramble to save the boy's life. I look over and theres [an alligator] on my right-hand side so I went to swim and she got my forearm so I grabbed her like this, she was trying to roll but she snapped her head so my arm went backwards like this completely, Merda recalled. In a TikTok video shared by @thereptilezoo, a woman let a massive alligator lay on top of her and it ended up urinating all over the place! There have been at least a half-dozen gator attacks in the Tampa Bay region this season, the most recent of which involved a 77-year-old woman over Labor Day weekend. WTSP shared portions of the interview with Merda on their Youtube. A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free. When you decide to walk in the door of any place with a live alligator show, there's a small, sadistic part of you that hopes something goes wrong. However, thanks to a brave man, the handler's hand was freed from the jaws of the reptile. Crocodile bites off a trainer's arm in the middle of a show in northern Thailand. Louisiana Man Loses Arm, Likely Killed in Alligator Attack in Ida KSLTV.com. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A man in Florida who managed to survive for three days lost in the woods after an alligator tore off his arm has spoken about his ordeal two months after the attack. Carsten Kieffer was on an alligator hunting trip with. "It had been pulled from the shoulder.". When she returned, her husband was no longer lying on the steps. A 72-year-old man's leg was bitten off by an alligator in Florida Friday afternoon, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue officials. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Then. Footage. WFTV A Florida man who had his arm ripped off by an alligator as he swam across a lake has offered some advice, saying: "Leave them gators alone". And there's nothing, no words can describe it, you know. "I said a gator got my arm, he says 'holy smokes man! Crocodile attacks: Man's arm ripped off by crocodile, then he gets He was in a lot of pain. Market data provided by Factset. Man retrieving golf balls is attacked by alligator in pond on Florida He told Fox News 13that Merda was evidently in agony. They especially knew about Big Joe, the 11-foot-long, 500 pound monster that swam in Crystal Lake. The reptile went into "death rolls," a technique used to tear apart food.. A Florida man says he survived being lost in a swamp for three days before finding help after an alligator attack. If youre outraged, were outraged. As if Hurricane Ida itself wasnt horrific enough, Louisianians are now facing a new dilemma: navigating all the various hazards it created. The man was participating in the Statewide Alligator Harvest at the time of the incident, according to the commission. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Florida man recovering after gator bite off his arm, spent 3 days lost "The urgent problem with reattaching a limb is getting blood supply to the muscle as soon as possible," said Dr. Charles Dupin, head of plastic surgery at the LSU Health Science Center. The video is a hoax thankfully. He was like just help, help, help. 'They cut the fence they helped him up, and he actually walked to the ambulance.'. I'm actually thriving. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Market data provided by Factset. In a recounting of the events given by the victims wife, she told authorities she was inside their home when she heard a commotion, and rushed outside to witness her husband being attacked by a gator, which bit off one of the mans arms. The alligator then launched itself upwards partially into the boat and bit (the victim) on his right arm and began to spin, amputating the arm at about the middle of the forearm, the report states. I'm going up, and I'm not coming back down.". Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019. At least three people have died in alligator attacks in 2022 alone, including two people in Florida. A Florida man who was attacked by an alligator while diving for shark's teeth says he's lucky to have survived the ordeal with only a skull fracture and staples to his head. Crocodile Bites Off Head of a Bungee Jumper: Video - Facts Doctors at Ochsner Hospital worked Wednesday night to reattach Devin Funck's left arm, which had been rushed to a hospital after its recovery about 3 1/2 hours after the attack. 'I said a gator got me arm, he said, 'holy smokes man!'. All rights reserved. Timothy Satterlee. He deserved to get that arm ripped off for being so fucking stupid, if you ask me. Despite losing the arm, Merda says he feels a new sense of purpose after the attack. Wildlife officials tracked down and killed the alligator. The rescuer said he found Merda naked and bloodied in the swamp. ' Merda recalled. It's the people throwing rocks and giving them food.". Merda claims hes adjusting to a new routine with a different outlook, and he wants to warn other people about the need for caution in Florida waterways. Doctors were unable to reattach an 11-year-old Louisiana boy's arm that was retrieved from the belly of the alligator, a family friend said Thursday. I was given the opportunity to make a chance, and I decided to live. \r\riPhone: http://bit.ly/http://bit.ly/iOS-wfts\rAndroid: http://bit.ly/abcaction-android Luckily, Dandwate survived the attack, at the cost of losing his left arm, and is expected to be fitted with a prosthetic limb. November 19, 2021 6:26 AM ET. The man was attacked outside his home in the New Orleans suburb of. But they weren't especially worried alligator attacks in Louisiana are rare and usually the injuries are not serious. St. Tammany Parish is the only parish in Louisiana where it is against the law to feed alligators, McCrea said. He continued to fight for his life as the alligator dragged him three times beneath the water. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A furious crocodile snapped back at its trainer, biting his arm in front of dozens of spectators at a show in Northern Thailand. Alligator Bites Off Man's Leg at Florida RV Park Attack - People Eric Merda said he spent three days lost in . Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com Dandwate followed them into the water, trying to get to them out. Merda is one of those fortunate individuals who were able to share his experience. After a gator bit Eric Merda's arm off while swimming in Lake Manatee, he spent three exhausting days on the swamp with one arm, Tampa's WTSP reports.There have been at least a half-dozen gator attacks in the Tampa Bay region this season, the most recent of which involved a . Florida Man Survives Three Days in Woods After Alligator Bites Off Arm The dogs are also apparently okay.\r\rHowever, despite all Dandwate has been through, forest officials say he will be fined for entering a restricted area that had warning signs about crocodiles displayed.-------------------------------------------------------------\r\rGo to https://www.patreon.com/tomonews and become a Patron now \r\rTomoNews is now on Patreon and we've got some cool perks for our hardcore fans.\r\rTomoNews is your best source for real news. All rights reserved. When she returned, Satterless was missing.Neighbors said large alligators are common in the area, near the Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, because some residents feed them. And if the muscle dies it can become infected.". Arcturus: New COVID-19 variant spreading in the U.S with new symptom, Gov. By A death roll is the name given to the rapid spinning maneuver that crocodilians, including alligators, perform to subdue and dismember prey. Footage showed him wrangling with the thrashing gator. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. A 71-year-old Louisiana man is missing after an alligator bit off his arm in floodwaters caused by Hurricane Ida. Click here to read more about limb reattachment surgery. Halfway across the lake, Merda says he encountered an alligator that grabbed his arm and snapped it as it tried to pull him under the water three times. On July 17, Merda got lost in the woods at Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City. An off-duty scientist decided to lend a helping hand in 2012 when an alligator was spotted along Highway 70 in North Carolina. "I came out the swamp, naked, with one arm," he said. Hurricane Ida: Man missing after alligator bites off his arm in The man's wife witnessed the attack that happened near the city of Slidell, which is just. Nampa not Tampa: Police respond to alligator found in Idaho. Hospital spokeswoman Amiee Goforth said she could not discuss Funck's condition without permission from his family. He said he was then dragged underwater three times before the alligator "finally did her death roll and took off with my arm.". A Florida man is opening up about a recent nightmarish alligator attack that resulted in the loss of one of his arms. A midwestern farmer called emergency services, shouting: "Come before it gets me again!" after he was attacked by his pet zebra at a farm in .