Latest news with #FloridaFishAndWildlifeConservationCommission
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Hungry alligator shows astonishing 'mercy' to Florida woman, 27, moments after attacking her
A merciful alligator spared a Florida woman after it chomped down on her arm as she swam in a local river. The 27-year-old woman and her boyfriend were taking their boat out to the South Fork River in Stuart, about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach, on Wednesday. She was in waist-deep water with the couple's dog when the 11-foot alligator bit the woman's hand and wrist, momentarily pulling her under, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office. 'The patient was walking in approximately waist-deep water and at a certain point, the alligator grabbed her by her right arm and hand and dragged her underwater,' Martin County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Michael McCarthy told WPBF. Miraculously, the gator decided to release the woman, and her boyfriend was able to take her to the boat ramp at Charlie Leighton Park. Photos from the scene showed a large presence of first responders in the area, and a helicopter was used to airlift the victim to a hospital. She sustained broken bones and lacerations, but is expected to survive, reported WPEC. The sheriff's office said she was flown to the hospital as a precaution, and her boyfriend and dog were not injured. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the scene and is working with a trapper to locate the gator. McCarthy advised residents to be aware of their surroundings while out in the water and use caution. 'We just advise always in Florida whenever you're swimming or you're in a body of water, always use caution, always assume there is an alligator in the area, it is Florida,' McCarthy said. 'Be careful of the type of water that you're swimming in, along with the, I guess, clarity of the water that you're swimming in, and also beware of what type of season it is for alligators, whether it's nesting season or not.' Residents on social media had mixed reactions to the news that a trapper was looking for the gator, with some defending the beast. First of all, anyone who goes into waist-deep water anywhere in any body of water in South Florida, except the beach, has a chance of being attacked by a gator. It's their territory first,' one person said. 'Dogs are a gator magnet... It's their home, if people want to go there, don't kill a gator,' said another. A third person added, 'Wait, but why are we trapping an alligator who was just chillin in his home?' Many people questioned why the couple got into the water, but wished the woman a quick recovery. 'The swamp puppy just wanted to cuddle. On a positive note, hopefully she is okay,' one person said. 'Why bring the dog into the water?! Glad both people and the dog are safe, but that could have gone south real quick,' said another.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Video shows airborne shark hitting surfer's face in Florida
A man surfing in Florida was hit in the face by a spinning shark — and the encounter was caught on camera. Surfer Darren Kaye said he was in waters off New Smyrna Beach, Florida on Friday evening when the spinner shark knocked him off his board. Video shows the shark flying from the water and striking Kaye, knocking him off his board. In an Instagram post, Kaye said the shark's nose hit him in the face and its pectoral fin hit him on the left arm. Kaye identified the animal as a spinner shark. The species is known for the spinning leaps it takes while hunting prey, according to the Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission. The sharks often jump out of the water, the commission said. Adult spinner sharks grow to a maximum length of seven to eight feet, and can weigh up to 110 pounds. Kaye said the shark hit him "like a truck." In another video describing the event, Kaye said he and other surfers in the area had seen the shark "chilling" and "doing its thing" in the area, but had paid it no mind because the species is a common sight. "Boom, all of a sudden, like crazy rocket ship, straight at my dome," Kaye said in the video, which was recorded for Surfline, a company that uses remote cameras to monitor ocean conditions. A Surfline camera captured the video of the shark hitting him. The encounter was "absolutely nuts," Kaye said, but it didn't rattle him -- he surfed for another 45 minutes afterwards, he said. Then, he looked up the video and sent it to friends and family. "Just another day at the inlet!" he wrote on Instagram. New Smyrna Beach is off Florida's east coast. The city is about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach. The city has 17 miles of coastline and is known for good surfing conditions, according to its website. Senate passes Trump reconciliation bill after JD Vance cast tie-breaking vote Watch: Senate passes Trump budget bill after Vance casts tie-breaking vote A deeper look at Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention facility
