A Florida fisherman had his hand bitten off by a monster alligator that lunged from a golf course pond over the weekend, wildlife officials said.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the victim was reeling in fish in a pond in Leesburg on Sunday afternoon as golfers and other local residents looked on in horror as the 9-foot-3-inch fish was reeling in. It is said that a crocodile attacked him.
“While the man was on the ground…the alligator grabbed his hand and they both rolled,” a shaken witness, Ron Priest, said. he told Fox 35.
The reptile bit off the fisherman’s hand, threw the heavily bleeding man and his prey, and returned to the water.
At least two people who witnessed the animal attack and its horrific aftermath called 911 for help.
One caller told dispatchers that the fisherman was walking around “constantly moaning” with blood on his hands.
“An alligator is attacking a man in the backyard!” the caller yelled into the phone, the report said.
“Some people even stop in their golf carts!”
When another caller called, the dispatcher said, “Are you talking about an alligator attack?”
The witness replied:, he let go. ”
The paramedic responded, “Oh, no, I understand.”
The panicked caller added: “I’m out of hands!”
A medical helicopter arrived minutes later and airlifted the injured fisherman to a hospital in Orlando. There was no immediate word on his condition.
The conservation committee said the male crocodile was captured in a trap and removed from the pond.
