I was given the opportunity to make a chance, and I decided to live. 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 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. He swam back to where he started, and then he began walking around, screaming for help. Then the gator lunged at me and I backed up so that my fins were facing . An alligator trapper was dispatched to the scene, but it is not known if the animal which attacked Merda was found. Not the smartest decision a Florida boy could make, Merda told WTSP. But it took another 2 1/2 hours to kill and land the big reptile, cut it open and retrieve the arm. Legal Statement. 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. 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. When Satterlees wife heard splashing Monday, she walked outside their home to see the gator attacking her husband, officials said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Thai reptile handler gets arm bitten by crocodile during a live show 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. 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. Spectator Jumps On Attacking Alligator's Back Before It - NewsBreak 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. 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. Search continues for man whose arm was torn off by alligator Our tone is irreverent and unapologetic. Woman Lets A Massive Alligator Lay On Her In Viral Video And because we can animate stories, TomoNews brings you news like youve never seen before.\r\rVisit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.com\rCheck out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj\rCheck out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f\r\rGet top stories delivered to your inbox everyday: http://bit.ly/tomo-newsletter\rSee a story that should be animated? A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free. \r\rABC Action News, WFTS, covers local news in Tampa Bay and Florida. 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. Feeding alligators can also decrease their fear of people and lead to attacks, Kinler said. Video: Crocodile bites off a trainer's arm in the middle of a show There have been at least six alligator attacks near Tampa so far this year, 10 Tampa Bay reported. 0:45. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation said the . Florida man survives 3 days in swamp after losing arm in alligator Alligator Bites Off Arm of 11-Year-Old Louisiana Boy | Fox News Of course you don't want to see anybody hurt, but it's same reason we like the crashes in NASCAR, the same reason we pay money to see a guy stick his head in a lion's mouth at the circus, and it's the same reason people jump out of . 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. They cut the harpoon lines and looked for a residence to stop for help. It's the people throwing rocks and giving them food.". Crocodile bites off a trainer's arm in the middle of a show in northern Thailand. Nampa not Tampa: Police respond to alligator found in Idaho. By "At first, I . 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. I looked at my hand and saw there was blood all over it. One of the alligators attacks him and bites down on his arm. Florida Man Who Got Arm Bitten Off By Alligator and Survived in Swamp Gives Wild Interview. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year. 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. They especially knew about Big Joe, the 11-foot-long, 500 pound monster that swam in Crystal Lake. 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. Merda spent three fruitless days meandering around the dismal swamp, trying to find an exit.I felt like I was walking in circles, I didnt know, Merda said. Bones poking out, muscles, if I try to move my fingers, you could see it twitching, he struggled to recall. Merda said he walked for three days until he found a fence and saw a man who he asked to help. He was talking to us and everything. The gator was 8 feet 9 inches long and weighed about 300 to 350 pounds. WATCH: Man Swims in Alligator Infested Water, Gets Bitten on the Arm Drone footage captures alligator attacking man filming commercial Officials are warning residents not to feed alligators which is not only illegal but can also cause alligators to be more aggressive toward people and associate them with food availability. Search crews have used a cadaver dog in their search for the victim, St. Tammany Parish sheriffs Capt. 'I'm lucky it didn't death roll:' Florida man survives alligator bite VIDEO: Man loses part of arm after bitten by 12-foot alligator, officials say. Legal Statement. Central Florida family says their Yorkie survived backyard alligator attack. "It's do or die," Merda explained. WTSP shared portions of the interview with Merda on their Youtube. "I was reborn for a reason, and I believe that is to motivate people," Eric Merda told WFLA about the July incident. A 72-year-old man's leg was bitten off by an alligator in Florida Friday afternoon, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue officials. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Funck and two friends from Slidell, La., about 20 miles northeast of New Orleans, had trudged half a mile to a small pond called Crystal Lake for a swim Wednesday afternoon. A Louisiana Man Had His Arm Bitten Off By An Alligator Walking In Dandwate followed them into the water, trying to get to them out. The comments below have not been moderated, By Arcturus: New COVID-19 variant spreading in the U.S with new symptom, Gov. He said he came upon the water and decided to swim across. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Then, suddenly something unexpected happens. WFTV McCrea said he found Big Joe within half an hour of the attack. A gator ripped off his arm. Then he got lost in a swamp for 3 nights. - MSN 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. 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. "They could not save the arm," Dunn said. , updated This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Market data provided by Factset. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. STPSO used high water vehicles and flatboats in an attempt to locate the victim, but as of this time all attempts have been futile. Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com Garca looked to be in pain and shook his right arm a bit . 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. We tell it like it is. Merda was immediately flown to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where doctors amputated the remnants of his arm. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A man who was diving for shark teeth was bitten in the head by a nine-foot alligator and he survived the attack. "Leave the alligators alone," Merda warned. 'Send a chopper': zebra almost bites farmer's arm off in Ohio 'They cut the fence they helped him up, and he actually walked to the ambulance.'. Man's arm bitten off by alligator at SC golf course 05:57 BST 08 Sep 2022 Market data provided by Factset. 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 . A Florida man who had his arm ripped off by an alligator as he swam across a lake has offered some advice, saying: "Leave them gators alone". KSLTV.com. Florida man bitten in arm by alligator - KIRO 7 News Seattle Eric Merda said he spent three days lost in . Crocodile Bites Off Head of a Bungee Jumper: Video - Facts "But it's kind of a hike to get to it, and there is no supervision there.". Now, Merda's family is asking for financial help to help him adjust to his new life. 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. 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. 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. "I said a gator got my arm, he says 'holy smokes man! Fortunately, he escaped unhurt. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019. Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com, That's a tail-gator! World's worst alligator attacks with victims' heads bitten and limbs He bent down to pick up his ball, and an alligator bit off his forearm. Officials say a man was attacked by an alligator in some of those flooded Louisiana waters Monday. People living in the area know about the alligators that swim in the three small lakes and waterways around their houses. 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 . However, the ordeal with the alligator was just the beginning. The alligator clamped down on the man's arm and . Dramatic video showed the encounter, which ended after a bystander jumped into the tank and grabbed the gator while the woman . He said he was then dragged underwater three times before the alligator "finally did her death roll and took off with my arm.". Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Florida man recovering after gator bite off his arm, spent 3 days lost Florida man bitten by alligator regains use of hand - Today A Louisiana Man Is Missing After an Alligator Attacked Him - The New The above-displayed photographs have been linked to an October 2009 incident in which a 10-foot alligator bit off the arm of a 77-year-old South .