Man has arm amputated after alligator attack behind Florida bar

“The responding crew treated a male patient who had an above the elbow amputation of his upper right extremity. Bystanders applied a tourniquet to the patient before we arrived,” Charlotte County Fire & EMS spokesperson Todd Dunn mentioned in a press release.

An alligator trapper was later despatched to the scene of the assault close to Banditos, a bar in Port Charlotte, Florida, authorities mentioned.

An alligator that was 3.18 metres lengthy was faraway from the pond and “humanely killed”, in line with a launch from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Serious accidents attributable to alligators are uncommon within the state, the wildlife company mentioned.

The company mentioned it “places the highest priority on public safety” and cautioned individuals to keep away from battle with alligators by conserving a protected distance and swimming solely in designated areas throughout daylight.

People must also by no means feed alligators, it mentioned.

“When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to dangerous circumstances for yourself and other people who could encounter the alligator in the future,” the company mentioned.

Additionally, the company advises residents to maintain their pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge as a result of the animals might seem as prey to alligators.

Through its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission contracts alligator trappers all through the state to take away alligators that will pose a menace. Residents might name a hotline to report issues in regards to the animals.

“Generally, an alligator may be considered a nuisance if it’s at least four feet in length and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property,” the company’s web site states.

The program goals to “proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur,” in line with the positioning.

The neighborhood of Port Charlotte is about 45 kilometres north of Fort Myers.