She suffered a broken thumb and gashes on a leg. Count on NBC2 to bring you the latest developments on this story. A 54-year-old landscaper, Melsek was attacked Wednesday by an alligator that was 11 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 457 pounds. The singular exception may be the presence of alligators, and you will see signs warning about them posted throughout the Island. "Actually the trappers were in there for a long time with hooks and we (law enforcement officials) were all standing there looking for the alligator," Adams said. July 15, 2005: An alligator more than 12 feet long grabbed 41-year-old Kevin Murray by the arm as he swam in Apollo Waterway and pulled him underwater as neighbors watched. The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island, The Best Sanibel Stories Come from Guests. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. Florida is one of their favorite habitats, of course! She died at 9:15 a.m. Friday during surgery at Lee Memorial Hospital as doctors tried to combat the infection that spread through her body. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. Alligator attacks man who was washing hands in pond - Sun Sentinel The man was able to free himself and call 911, but sustained serious injury to his right forearm. The skin was very torn up on his arm. Wind gusts will not become as strong as yesterday. During cooler months, alligators are generally lethargic and do not move around much. If fishing, throw fish scraps away into trash cans, not the water. They outlasted dinosaurs! The gator reached up and grabbed his arm, Abo said. The following is a list of safety tips to ensure that your time spent on Sanibel is both rewarding and safe. Officials were about ready to give up nearly two hours into the hunt for the gator. Alligators can climb and quite well, just something to be aware of. So it wouldve been devastating, so Im just happy that it turned out the way that it did, and I just want to let other people know that theyre actually there right off the causeway, and that, you know, for people to be careful.. 8:49 PM EST, Mon December 19, 2022 A A SANIBEL, Fla. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him on the arm. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They are often spotted on Sanibel (though rarely on Captiva) which is a wonderful habitat for them as much as it is a great vacation spot for us, They are a protected species and given the percentage of conservation land on the island are a common sight that is to. , there was a time they almost became extinct. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp Full story: https://t.co/s8YiqlIH9V pic.twitter.com/E1AvLHu7IS, Hes a big guy, he said his arm was hurting pretty good," said Sanibel Fire's Division Chief Tim Barrett. Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' star dies at 61. Please do your part in protecting the Islands wildlife by not feeding alligators. There are several places to spot Alligators on Sanibel and, they are most active in the warmer months. Alligator attacks man who was washing hands in pond Ironically, Olin lives on the same street as Sanibel's only other fatal gator attack victim. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. State law prohibits killing, feeding, harassing or possession of alligators. Murray said it was skinny for an alligator. The attack on Melsek made headlines internationally because of a heroic effort to save her by several men who heard her screams and Sanibel Police officers who rushed to her aid. A woman's service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. Small, tropical, inviting, it is easy to feel that there is not a worry in the world while vacationing on Sanibel. We just want to see a sensible distance between the two! Therefore, swim only during daylight hours. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where alligators are often sighted, according to the Sanibel Captiva Guide. U.S. news An 88-year-old woman was killed in a suspected alligator attack at a gated community near Hilton Head, S.C. "It was guarding her and did not want people close by," a law enforcement. Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators. According to Sanibel Fire the man was severely bitten but is expected to be okay. The decorative pond is about the size of a swimming pool, said Sanibel Police Maj. Michael Murray. She survived the attack but died later of an infection caused by the bite. FWC. Lauri Olin, 56, of Rabbit Road on Sanibel, was working for Wilson Landscape and Pond when a 6-foot, 7-inch gator grabbed her hand while she worked at 5206 Punta Caloosa Court, said Officer Joanne Adams, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman. She fought back and survived after being treated at a hospital. May 4, 2001: The chewed body of 70-year-old Samuel Wetmore was found floating in a south Sarasota County retention pond with an 8-foot alligator circling nearby. Alligator attacks rare in Florida, but nuisance gator numbers on rise SANIBEL, Fla. (WSVN) Rescue teams saved a man's life after a harrowing alligator attack in Sanibel. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. Melsek was just two years younger than Olin when a gator attacked her while she was doing landscaping on July 21, 2004, on Poinciana Circle near a pond. Chief Barrett explained that capturing the gator was like fishing. Utilities Department 24hr Emergency Hotline: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. 239-395-7671, Copyright 2020 - 2021|Avada Theme by. 239-267-1317 Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States - Wikipedia Nevertheless, the mayor believes the island will be open on January 2. Experts trapped the cold blooded animal with meat and lassoed it. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. An 11-foot-4-inch, 407-pound alligator that was confirmed to have killed her was euthanized. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. "She got stitches in her right hand and was given appropriate medication and medical care," Adams said. "Thankfully Lauri's OK," Murray said. John C. Goede: Can changes be made to common areas without members' approval? Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. But neither you nor your dog should approach the edges of fresh or brackish bodies of water as the enticement is great, but the risk is even greater. Alligator Safety Tips | City of Sanibel - Sanibel, Florida (2022), The Sanibel and Captiva Farmers Markets (2022), 11 Local Favorites For A Sanibel Island Sunset (2022). Officials said the man was able to free himself and call 911. They are often spotted on Sanibel (though rarely on Captiva) which is a wonderful habitat for them as much as it is a great vacation spot for us! I thought she was pulling through, Steve Yetsko said. Enter your message or notes here to be included in the email. The man was washing his hands in a pond in Sanibel, Florida, at around 11 a.m. on Thursday when the alligator bit him, the city said in a statement. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. Howsmon, 54, said the gator population needs to be thinned. And we love our tourists. Remember they are an important part of Sanibel's natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. Fatal alligator attacks in Florida over past 20 years - WCTV This was the first recorded fatal alligator attack in Texas since 1836. Administrative Services/ Human Resources/ Benefits/ Pensions, Business Tax Receipts (formerly Occupational Licenses), Police including Emergency Management Forms, Register with AlertLee for Emergency Announcements, Register for Recreation Center Activities, City of Sanibel Demographics - April 27, 2021, Commercial Hurricane Re-Entry Application. It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. Besides that, doctors said, hes going to be just fine. The man was able to free. It usually sat on the bank across the pond, she said. These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. City of Sanibel Alligator Policy | City of Sanibel - Sanibel, Florida The victim told Abo that he was trying to keep the alligator from pulling him into the water, and that if the nearly 10-foot animal rolled, a technique alligators use to harm prey, he would roll with it. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. Michelle Braun 13 subscribers Subscribe 625 views 1 year ago After a fun day at the beach, many of us were relaxing under our umbrellas; taking in the. The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . Murray said he doesn't recall any other Sanibel gator attacks on humans recently. She died at 9:15 a.m. Friday during surgery at Lee Memorial Hospital as doctors tried to combat the infection that spread through her body. Olin was taken to HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers for appropriate treatment, to include antibiotics to ward off any infection. List: 24 fatal alligator attacks in Florida since 1973 - The News-Press What's happening to turtle nests along Naples' beaches? Jeannie Pitts was throwing the frisbee with her dog, Honey, when a gator. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 20351 Summerlin Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33908 What do we expect?. The public may view the reports by going to WSVN.com and clicking on "FCC Public File", or by visiting the FCC's website at FCC.org. She had toxic levels of alcohol and an anti-depression drug in her body, and authorities believed she was attacked on land and dragged into the canal.
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