"This was a very large gator, and as they get bigger they can become more aggressive," said Noel Kinler, manager of the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' alligator program. The wildlife agency says 22 alligator-bite incidents have been reported this year. The man, who is in his 70s, was . some on-the-spot heroics by zoo guests saved . I looked at my hand and saw there was blood all over it. Central Florida family says their Yorkie survived backyard alligator attack. Merda was immediately flown to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where doctors amputated the remnants of his arm. 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 . Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to [email protected]. After the alligator finally retreated, Merda says he was injured and lost in the swamp for three days before being found and airlifted to a hospital where doctors amputated his arm. 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. Last modified on Wed 15 Mar 2023 14.01 EDT. Officials say a man was attacked by an alligator in some of those flooded Louisiana waters Monday. "I was reborn for a reason, and I believe that is to motivate people.". Share. 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. A NORTH CAROLINA local tried to trap an alligator with a towel but he bit off more than he could chew. A Florida man is opening up about a recent nightmarish alligator attack that resulted in the loss of one of his arms. At 2:21 a.m. Sunday, Edwards was hanging out with friends on Nubbin Slough in Okeechobee County when he told them he was going to swim across a 25-foot-deep canal, according to an Okeechobee . 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. Woman bitten twice by shark while boogie boarding at New Smyrna Beach, beach officials say. As he was swimming, he was attacked by an alligator that gripped his right forearm in its jaws. 02:13 - Source: WFTS Latest Videos 17 videos Drone footage captures. A 71-year-old Louisiana man is missing after an alligator bit off his arm in floodwaters caused by Hurricane Ida. While power outages and demolished buildings each come with their own unique set of challenges, a heartbreaking story has drawn attention to just how dangerous a simple walk down your street could be post-hurricane. The rescuer said he found Merda naked and bloodied in the swamp. Our tone is irreverent and unapologetic. He told Fox News 13that Merda was evidently in agony. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. Scott Lahodik, 51, was doing the job the course hired him to do when the alligator clamped down on his left arm and caused a significant injury to his arm, according to FOX 13 and WFTS.. Footage. 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). 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 . Despite losing the arm, Merda says he feels a new sense of purpose after the attack. According to NBC News, a 71 year-old man was walking in the floodwaters outside his home in Slidell, Louisiana when he was attacked by an alligator. "With a bone poking out and a lot of pain, the whole three days I was screaming at the top of my lungs," he said. Legal Statement. Bones poking out, muscles, if I try to move my fingers, you could see it twitching, he struggled to recall. 13:34 BST 08 Sep 2022, A Florida man survived for three days in a swamp after an alligator ripped off his arm while he was attempting to swim in the lake - a move he admits was 'not the smartest decision a Florida boy can make.'. November 19, 2021 6:26 AM ET. I'm actually thriving. 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. All rights reserved. VIDEO: Man loses part of arm after bitten by 12-foot alligator, officials say. A young man trying to avoid Lakeland police lost his arm to an alligator in a lake Wednesday evening. The man, who officials did not identify, was attacked . Updated: Sep 8, 2022 / 04:54 PM EDT. In a message to others, Merda told 10 Tampa Bay that people should be cautious around Florida waters. 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. - 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. The 72-year . 0:45. Merda reached over to grab the animal in an unsuccessful attempt to free his arm. A Florida man is speaking out after a three-day-long ordeal in which he lost his arm in an alligator attack and then got lost in a swamp. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year. The video is a hoax thankfully. 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. I'm going up, and I'm not coming back down.". The strikes left 34 people injured, including three children, and caused widespread damage. Natural selection does that to people.. SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) A Sarasota man spent three days lost in a swamp after losing his arm in a gator attack. He'll need prosthesis.". Eric Merda, from Sarasota, was taken to hospital after the attack at Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City in the US state on 17 July. 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. "It's an ideal pond to swim in, clean, beautiful," said Howard McCrea, 61, the St. Tammany Parish deputy and nuisance alligator hunter who caught the animal that attacked Funck. Garca looked to be in pain and shook his right arm a bit . 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. If youre laughing, were laughing. "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. He told Fox13 Tampa Bay he is happy to be alive: "It's do or die," he said. On July 17, Merda got lost in the woods at Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City. Hospital spokeswoman Amiee Goforth said she could not discuss Funck's condition without permission from his family. The 45-year-old trainer was performing a stunt at the Phokkathara zoo in Chiang Rai. An off-duty scientist decided to lend a helping hand in 2012 when an alligator was spotted along Highway 70 in North Carolina. He said he came upon the water and decided to swim across. "I was reborn for a reason, and I believe that is to motivate people," Eric Merda told WFLA about the July incident. Dandwate followed them into the water, trying to get to them out. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Associated Press. Merda was taken to hospital where doctors amputated most of his right arm. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. A Florida man says he survived being lost in a swamp for three days before finding help after an alligator attack. The problem here was a drop of sweat or water or something. The video shared online claims to show an unfortunate accident where a Crocodile (or alligator) bites off the head of a Bungee jumper! Jeffrey Heim, 25, was searching for shark teeth in a river in Florida when a gator pounced on him and grabbed his head in between his jaws. 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. Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019. When Satterlees wife heard splashing Monday, she walked outside their home to see the gator attacking her husband, officials said. Funck was in stable condition Thursday, Dunn said. 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. Describing the grisly state of his arm, he told 10 Tampa Bay he could see bones and muscles exposed. "I came out the swamp, naked, with one arm," he said. 'I look over and there's a gator on my right-hand side,' he told 10 Tampa Bay. But it took another 2 1/2 hours to kill and land the big reptile, cut it open and retrieve the arm. 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. Wildlife expert Justin Matthews said that based on the severity of the injury, it was most likely a large alligator. We've received your submission. A Florida man is grateful he can play catch with his kids again after doctors re-attached his arm following an alligator attack. A furious crocodile snapped back at its trainer, biting his arm in front of dozens of spectators at a show in Northern Thailand. Timothy Satterlee. A Florida man is opening up about a recent nightmarish alligator attack that resulted in the loss of one of his arms. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. As such, human-alligator encounters and conflicts occur. A man who was diving for shark teeth was bitten in the head by a nine-foot alligator and he survived the attack. A man believed to be looking for Frisbees in a lake was killed in late May in Largo, a city in the Tampa Bay area. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The caption of the video reads, "Just a taste". Then, suddenly something unexpected happens. 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. The man's wife witnessed the attack that happened near the city of Slidell, which is just. Andrew Mark Miller is a writer at Fox News. March 29, 2021 12:15 pm ET. "Do you want to live or die. 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. Florida is known for its large alligator population. He said he was then dragged underwater three times before the alligator "finally did her death roll and took off with my arm.". Im going up, and Im not coming back down.". Other people on the boat were able to force the alligator to release its bite, according to the report. 'He was in a lot of pain. "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. A stock photo shows an alligator in a Florida swamp. Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com Not the smartest decision a Florida boy could make, Merda told WTSP. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Between 1948 and 2021, there were 442 unprovoked bite incidents in the state, 26 of which were fatal. 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. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. A man was taken to the hospital after being bitten by an alligator at Lake Jesup Park around 6 p.m. Thursday evening, officials said. On July 17, Eric Merda was swimming across Lake Manatee when an almost-seven-foot-long alligator bit and severed his arm, according to local station WFLA News Channel 8. Merda managed to swim back to shore and started to walk in search of help. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, October 9, 2009 / 1:08 PM / AP. "But it's kind of a hike to get to it, and there is no supervision there.". They cut the fence they helped him up, and he actually walked to the ambulance.". Each time, he fought his way back to the surface. A man in Florida had his arm bitten off by an alligator while swimming across a lake, then spent three days lost in the wilderness.. Incredibly Eric Merda, who was attacked by the reptile at Lake . Merda managed to swim to the shore and yell for help, in agony. Merda was eventually airlifted to a hospital where doctors amputated his arm, according to the station. As of right now, the victims name has not been disclosed. VIDEO: Bear, two cubs stroll down Orange County neighborhood sidewalk. He continued to fight for his life as the alligator dragged him three times beneath the water. WTSP shared portions of the interview with Merda on their Youtube. 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. 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. He said he spent three days trying to find his way out of the swamp. The incident happened in late October around a . Ron DeSantis is making an announcement in Titusville, Bride killed, groom critically injured after wedding reception when drunken driver hits golf cart, Residents say Orange County middle school dismissal plaguing neighborhood with issues, Man, dog unharmed after vehicle goes airborne during tornado in Florida. A 72-year-old man's leg was bitten off by an alligator in Florida Friday afternoon, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue officials. Shes already got my arm, so when we came up the third time, she finally did her death roll and took off with my arm, Merda explained. The man was attacked outside his home in the New Orleans suburb of Slidell, which was inundated with several feet of water. "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.'. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation said the . But as soon as he entered the lake, a crocodile surfaced, clamping down on his left arm and ripping the limb off from below the elbow.\r\rForest department officials rescued Dandwate, and he was rushed to the hospital for treatment. However, the ordeal with the alligator was just the beginning. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. A man was taken to the hospital after being bitten by an alligator at Lake Jesup Park around 6 p.m. Thursday evening, officials 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. It's the people throwing rocks and giving them food.". Six weeks later, Weatherholt faces a second-degree misdemeanor charge of feeding the alligator. I was powerless and completely at the mercy of that wild animal. This story has been shared 141,895 times. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 'Bones poking out, muscles, if I try to move my fingers, you could see it twitching,' he said. This story has been shared 153,567 times. "It was all together, but it was a blueish color," McCrea said of the torn limb. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Eric Merda, a. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Carsten Kieffer was on an alligator hunting trip with. 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. 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. St. Tammy Parish Sheriff Randy Smith went on to urge residents to be extra vigilant when walking in flooded areas, as wildlife has been displaced as well during this storm and alligators and other animals may have moved closer into neighborhoods.. He was like just help, help, help. Nampa not Tampa: Police respond to alligator found in Idaho. The reptile chomps down and . The towels, toys and other gear that still dotted the beach Thursday testified to the spot's popularity with area kids. By Feeling like he was walking in circles, he decided to follow the sun and power lines that he could see. or redistributed. It happened Tuesday in Charlotte City, north of Fort Myers. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. "More times than not it's not the people's fault that are getting attacked. People living in the area know about the alligators that swim in the three small lakes and waterways around their houses. They searched until it got dark yesterday, and unfortunately we still havent located Mr. Satterlee, Vitter said. The gator was 8 feet 9 inches long and weighed about 300 to 350 pounds. Click here to read more about limb reattachment surgery. 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. There is a high probability that he is deceased, but we cant make that call until we recover the body.. Florida man survives for THREE DAYS in the swamp after an alligator bites off his arm when he attempted to swim through a lake: 'Not the smartest decision a Florida boy can make' Eric. An alligator attacking a man swimming in a lake in Florida was captured by drone footage. Officials were not sure why the alligator attacked the boy, although in warm weather they feed more often, Kinler said. This story has been shared 390,266 times. "Do not feed the gators and you guys know who you are, throwing rocks at them, I've seen it on the job sites, leave them gators alone," he said. Eric Merda, 43, from Sarasota, was visiting the Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City on July 17 when he got lost. A Louisiana Man Had His Arm Bitten Off By An Alligator Walking In Hurricane Ida's Floodwaters, And Then He Vanished Jessica Howard Contributing Writer Instagram Twitter September 1,. He was talking to us and everything. , updated "At first, I . McCrea said he found Big Joe within half an hour of the attack. ", 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). Dramatic video showed the encounter, which ended after a bystander jumped into the tank and grabbed the gator while the woman . And there's nothing, no words can describe it, you know. One of the alligators attacks him and bites down on his arm. The Fripp . 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. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Merdas alligator encounter on July 21. \r\riPhone: http://bit.ly/http://bit.ly/iOS-wfts\rAndroid: http://bit.ly/abcaction-android As if Hurricane Ida itself wasnt horrific enough, Louisianians are now facing a new dilemma: navigating all the various hazards it created. 'I didn't know if he was dead or alive when I first walked upon him,' the rescuer said. 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. With his right arm trapped, the 43-year-old from Sarasota wrapped his left arm around the gator as it dragged him underwater three times. IIRC the trick to this is that the crocodile will not close its mouth unless something touches its tongue. All rights reserved. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "Leave the alligators alone," Merda warned. CNN affiliate WFTS reports. Crocodile bites off a trainer's arm in the middle of a show in northern Thailand. He was like just help, help, help. According to Mr Caetano, the man tried swimming faster in order to escape the oncoming reptile. Market data provided by Factset. An alligator trapper was dispatched to the scene, but it is not known if the animal which attacked Merda was found. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. 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. Doctors at . 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. WFTV "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. A death roll is the name given to the rapid spinning maneuver that crocodilians, including alligators, perform to subdue and dismember prey. He swam back to where he started, and then he began walking around, screaming for help. Video shows shoppers fleeing from ISIS-inspired attacker i Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, All the red carpet highlights and star-studded fashionfrom the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt by drunk driver just minutes after leaving reception, Rihannas Met Gala bridal look makes fan question if she married A$AP Rocky, Inside Met Gala 2023: See celebs let loose at extravagant dinner, Pregnant Rihanna arrives fashionably late in blooming white gown at Met Gala 2023, Khristina Williams previews the New York Liberty's 2023 WNBA season, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced on 'American Idol' amid drama. Timothy Satterlee was attacked by the scaly beast on Monday at his home in Slidell, where his shed was under several feet of water during the storm surge near Lake Pontchartrain. To evade death, the man quickly comes out of the water. Sarasota man found naked with arm gone after gator attack, witnesses say. 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. St. Tammany Parish is the only parish in Louisiana where it is against the law to feed alligators, McCrea said. Feeding alligators can also decrease their fear of people and lead to attacks, Kinler said. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The man was attacked outside his home in the New Orleans suburb of. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. On July 17, Eric Merda was swimming across Lake. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. "I said a gator got my arm, he says 'holy smokes man! However, upon returning to her husband, his body was nowhere to be found, leading officials to presume the man had been finished off by the gator. He was in a lot of pain. I said [an alligator] got my arm, he said, holy smokes man! His wife said he was attacked as he waded through the floodwaters around noon on Monday. 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 . TikTok user Amanda Leigh Demuth saw a three-legged alligator in the middle of a road during a recent visit to Fort Myers, 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. "It's do or die," Merda explained. A 71-year-old Louisiana man is missing after an alligator bit off his arm in floodwaters caused by Hurricane Ida. "My heart is broken but we are so thankful he is alive," James added. The agency says that 22 alligator bites have been reported in Florida this year after a total of 21 bite incidents in 2021. KSLTV.com. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A Louisiana Man Had His Arm Bitten Off By An Alligator Walking In Hurricane Idas Floodwaters, And Then He Vanished, The Best Coachella 2023 Performances Were Reflections Of Pure Joy, My (Non-Anonymous) Ballot For The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, HBOs White House Plumbers Delivers An Absurd Historical Snapshot And A Knockout Performance From Justin Theroux, The Rundown: Ted Lasso Has Created A Delightful Little I Think You Should Leave Conundrum, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "It had been pulled from the shoulder.". 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. All rights reserved. He eventually located the lake and decided to swim across rather than trek around. 'And there's nothing, no words can describe it, you know.'. Fortunately, he escaped unhurt. 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! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. 'She got my forearm so I grabbed her like this, she was trying to roll by.'. Legal Statement. Footage showed him wrangling with the thrashing gator. A golf resort in South Carolina posted a photo of a man on the golf course dangerously grabbing the tail of an alligator while another man took his picture. 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 . 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. 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. Officials immediately placed the arm in an ice chest and rushed it to the New Orleans hospital where doctors waited to try to reattach it. But they weren't especially worried alligator attacks in Louisiana are rare and usually the injuries are not serious. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. An alligator handler got wrangled in by the creature she was hired to control -- but before things turned deadly . Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. If youre outraged, were outraged. Eric Merda, 43, lost his arm to an alligator while swimming in Florida lake (Fox 13 Tampa Bay) After the alligator finally retreated, Merda says he was injured and lost in the swamp for three. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He deserved to get that arm ripped off for being so fucking stupid, if you ask me. The commission, Seminole County Sheriffs Office and fire and rescue teams responded to the incident. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC.