Latest news with #alligator
Daily Mail
5 hours 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
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman attacked by alligator while swimming with dog, boyfriend: Sheriff
A woman was attacked by an alligator while swimming in waist-deep water with her boyfriend and dog in Florida, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office. The attack occurred on Wednesday, when the 27-year-old woman and her boyfriend took their boat out in the South Fork of the St. Lucie River in Stuart, Florida, the sheriff's office said in a statement. While the two were swimming in waist-deep water with their dog, "an alligator bit the hand and wrist of the female" and momentarily pulled her underwater, officials said. MORE: Woman killed by alligator during couple canoe trip, husband tried to save her The gator released the woman, with her boyfriend "swiftly" jumping in to "save her life," Martin County Sheriff's Office Lt. Michael McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday. The woman's boyfriend drove her to the boat ramp at Charlie Leighton Park in Palm City, Florida, and the victim was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, Florida, officials said. The sheriff's office said the woman -- who has not been identified -- suffered "several broken bones" in her hand and wrist, along with minor lacerations and scuffing on the top of her hand and wrist. The dog and the boyfriend were not injured in the attack, officials said. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation responded to the scene and are "awaiting their trapper to locate the alligator," the sheriff's office said. FWC confirmed to ABC News the trapper has not yet captured the gator and will continue "removal efforts" on Thursday. The status of the woman's condition as of Thursday remains unclear. Martin County Sheriff's Office and HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
The Sun
16-07-2025
- The Sun
Gruesome details of alligator attack where 10-foot beast snuck up on girl, 15, in waist-deep water & dragged her under
A FAMILY has revealed their horror after their teen daughter was bitten by an alligator in clear, shallow water and dragged under in an instant. Summer Hinote, 15, was bitten by the animal in waist-deep water and violently shaken, Walton County Sheriff's Office in Florida confirmed. 4 'I just started punching it in the head as hard as I could. And he had let go and then grabbed me again,' the teen told local Fox affiliate WOFL-TV. 'And the second time that he let go and grabbed me, he had drug me underneath the water. And he like shook my leg around.' The attack happened on June 22 in Pond Creek, about 300 miles west of Jacksonville. Hinote told the outlet she was swimming when she 'felt something brush up against me.' 'I had felt something latch onto my leg,' she said. 'I didn't know what it was at first, so I just turned my body around and started punching it in the head.' That's when the alligator attacked her and even let her go at one point just to get a better grip. 'It had like let go and then grabbed again and then dragged me underneath the water and then shook me around,' said Hinote. Hinote was able to break free from the alligator's grasp and a friend pulled her out of the water. 'I hit the ground. I laid down on the ground because I couldn't run for real and I just started praying,' the teen said. Baby is mauled to death by family dog after mom turned back to pick up laundry before desperately trying to stop attack During the chaos, Hinote asked her friend if she still had her leg. 'And he was like, 'Yes, like you're fine, you're fine, it's not that bad,'' she said. But Hinote and her friend had to act fast as the gator kept following the two of them. 'So, he had to pick up me and my other friend, because my other friend was freaking out, and run up the bank … because it's higher than the rest and the gator couldn't really climb up,' she said. The teens grabbed their other friend to call Summer's mom, Shree, who immediately jumped in her car and called 911. Once Shree Hinote arrived, she loaded Summer in her truck and raced to meet first responders. Officials believe the gator was at least 10 feet long based on the size of the bite. 'People were saying that we were provoking the gator, which was not true at all,' said Summer. 'Because it snuck up from behind me and none of us even knew that he was there.' She added that none of her friends would ever mess with animals since they grew up surrounded by nature and know about the dangers the creatures can pose. Summer suffered severe leg injuries; however, officials say it didn't need to be amputated. Photos show deep bite marks in Hinote's thigh as blood drips down her leg, but the teen was all smiles in a picture with her doctor. 4 4
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Fox News
Florida teen fights off alligator that dragged her underwater
A teenager in Florida was attacked by a 10-foot alligator and survived after fighting back. The Walton County Sheriff's Office said 15-year-old Summer Hinote was bitten by the alligator on her leg. The alligator took her underwater and was shaking her violently, she told local FOX 35. "I just started punching it in the head as hard as I could. And he had let go and and then grabbed me again," Hinote said. "And the second time that he let go and grabbed me, he had drug me underneath the water. And he like shook my leg around." The incident happened in Pond Creek, Florida, on June 22 about 25 miles away from Destin. The teenager said she was swimming when she "felt something brush up against me." Hinote said that at one point, the alligator let go of her just to get a better grip. "Whenever he let go, I had started running up. And I had gotten up out of the water," she said. Hinote was able to break free of the alligator's control with a friend's help. The teenager's leg suffered severe injuries, but it did not need to be amputated, officials said.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Husband Tried to Save His Wife After Alligator Attack. Instead Animal ‘Swam Away with the Victim': Report
The alligator that fatally attacked a woman who was canoeing in Florida with her husband last month "performed a death roll," according to a new report The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to an alligator encounter in Polk County on May 6, before a 61-year-old woman was "later found deceased and recovered from the water" "The victim was immediately bitten on the torso," according to a newly released FWC report obtained by local outlet WESHA bull alligator in Florida bit a woman in the torso before it "performed a death roll" during last month's fatal attack off Lake Kissimmee, according to a new report. On May 6, around 4:02 p.m. local time, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to an alligator encounter near the mouth of Tiger Creek in Polk County. The woman, who has since been identified as 61-year-old Cynthia Diekema, was canoeing with her husband when they encountered the reptile and both fell into the water, the FWC later shared. The 11-foot, 4-inch alligator then bit Diekema and pulled her into the water before she was "later found deceased." According to NBC affiliate WESH, which recently obtained a new report from officials, the alligator was "submerged in approximately 2.5 feet of water" and thrashed when the canoe passed over it, causing the couple to fall in the water. "The victim was immediately bitten on the torso, and efforts by her husband to assist her were unsuccessful," officials wrote, per WESH. "The alligator performed a death roll and swam away with the victim." The Polk County Sheriff's Office and FWC officials responded to the scene, along with a "contracted nuisance alligator trapper," who removed the reptile from the water, according to the FWC. A spokesperson for the FWC directed PEOPLE to submit a public records request to obtain the incident report. According to WESH, the incident remains under investigation. "The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time," the agency said in a statement last month. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. During a previous news conference, FWC Major Evan Laskowski confirmed that Diekema — from Davenport — "ended up on top of the alligator in the water" as her husband "attempted to intervene" but was unsuccessful. The FWC encourages Floridians to follow "precautionary measures" near alligators, including keeping a safe distance, keeping pets on a leash, swimming in "designated swimming areas during daylight hours" and not feeding them. According to statistics from the agency, the state recorded 487 unprovoked alligator bites on humans — 27 of which resulted in fatalities — from 1948 to 2024. Diekema was from Paw Paw, Mich., and is survived by her husband Dave, two children and two grandchildren, per her obituary. "She radiated her inner and outer beauty in all she did and had unconditional love for everyone," the obituary read. "She cherished her family and every moment and adventure they spent together." Read the original article on People
