A trapper later killed the alligator. 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. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. July 23, 2004: Landscaper Janie Melsek, 54, died from a severe infection two days after she was mauled by a 12-foot, 457-pound alligator on Sanibel Island. Experts trapped the cold blooded animal with meat and lassoed it. The first 911 call, from Olin's co-worker, came at 11:18 a.m. "It wasn't really that big and it wasn't that deep," Murray said of the pond. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel). According to the press release, the man suffered a serious injury to his right forearm. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Local Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel. Now we've decided to share a little sunshine with those all over the world! Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. Its the sunshine state! A word to the wise should be sufficient. I think they shouldnt let them get that big. As I pulled up, the man was sitting on the side, with blood coming out, with an extension chord that that he used as a makeshift tourniquet, said Sanibel Fire & Rescue District medical director Dr. Benjamin Abo, who specializes in wilderness medicine and who treated the man on-site. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. The following is a list of safety tips to ensure that your time spent on Sanibel is both rewarding and safe. Never allow small children to play by themselves near water. Leave alligators alone. You have to have your head on a swivel and be smart, especially with regard to small animals and small children; if youre down near the waters edge, theres a potential gator there. Since alligators are cold-blooded reptiles, their metabolic rate increases and decreases as water and air temperatures fluctuate. Jeannie Pitts was throwing the frisbee with her dog, Honey, when a gator. 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! Alligators on Sanibel are very interesting creatures that have been roaming the earth since prehistoric times. They rushed to the scene to help the wounded man. 2000s. Police shot the reptile to death before rushing Melsek to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. Re: Snakes or alligators on Captiva? 2023 Sanibel Holiday All rights reserved. How much should your insurance company pay, and can an adjuster stack on costs? Chief Barrett explained that capturing the gator was like fishing. 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 []. Authorities confirmed that the victim was from Arkansas and was a construction worker focused on recovery from Hurricane Ian, which decimated the area in September. Youve got to be careful., Turf Masters Brands expands with recent acquisitions, Project EverGreen receives $50,000 matching grant from MEDC, Schill Grounds Management promotes 4 to senior positions, Schill Grounds Management acquires GrassCor, SavATree merges with Lyndon Tree Care & Landscaping. Murray said he doesn't recall any other Sanibel gator attacks on humans recently. Steve Yetsko, 52, who lives around the bend from the house at 3061 Poinciana Circle where Melsek was working when she was attacked, was among those who ran to her aid. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators when you do this, the end result can be the same. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Latest News Updates for Sanibel Island & SWFL. Sept. 11, 2001, 82-year-old Robert Steele had his leg severed and bled to death when he was attacked by a 10-foot alligator while walking his dog by a Sanibel Island canal. Guide to Sanibel Restaurants I thought she was pulling through, Steve Yetsko said. The primary factor in the evaluation is determining the potential danger posed by an alligator or crocodile. And myself, along with the fire department, were just a couple of minutes away, and were there pretty quickly to put on a commercial grade tourniquet and south of bleeding and do our assessment and provide emergency medical care for him, Abo said. Never feed Alligators, this will cause them to lose their natural fear of humans and associate humans with food. During the emergency Thursday, bystanders and the victim fashioned a makeshift tourniquet out of an orange power chord, wrapping it around his upper arm before paramedics arrived. Second, a full grown alligator can exist on one raccoon for months. A nearby alligator behaved aggressively toward the divers, and was trapped and euthanized. When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. . I dont know that were getting a reputation for it, Greenstein said. There were three in the truck, but the one from the attack is the biggest one. Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. It is the bite alone which is so full of bacteria that it kills by infection. His mother told authorities he had been standing in knee-deep water picking water lilies for her. Murray and Adams say that people need to be aware of their surroundings, but as Adams said, even the trappers had a difficult time finding the gator in the pond where Olin was working. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Steve Yetsko who called Sanibel police officers the real heroes in Melseks rescue said hes never had a serious problem with a gator. A trapper killed the alligator suspected in the attack. Many attacks occur when people do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water. nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Enter one or more recipient email addresses separated by commas or spaces. The man is taking antibiotics and needs to clean his wounds thoroughly and often. The alligator, found . Theyre not in our yard, were in their territory. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. In April 2004, a 74-year-old woman was grabbed by the leg and pulled underwater by a 9-foot, 7-inch gator. Theyre just being alligators. The cause of death was listed as "systemic inflammatory response syndrome." The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' star dies at 61. The man was able to free himself from the. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. The alligator, found with the missing leg in his mouth, was destroyed. Wetmore suffered from dementia and was believed to have wandered away from his home. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. Rubio hopes to rebound four months after loss, Guest commentary: Support solar in Florida? The gator released Melsek after a five- to 10-minute tug of war with the gator on one side of her and police on the other. She later died in surgery from an infection acquired from being in the water . Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. 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. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Many people were calling for city officials to do something about the reptiles that have attacked three people on Sanibel since September 2001, killing two of them. What's happening to turtle nests along Naples' beaches? FWC. It seems to have worked for years. see crocodiles in an area called Flamingo in the Everglades that's located pretty far out of the way.. Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. 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. Sanibel Island is currently closed to non-residents, with the exception of first responders and recovery workers, as local authorities continue storm cleanup. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. I think its pretty scary, Ill tell you that, said Elaine Smith, a customer service representative at Bank of the Islands. 239-395-7671, Copyright 2020 - 2021|Avada Theme by. There are. ***Christmas Light Footage was recorded in January 2021 from Tween Waters Resort. We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures safely, respectfully, and responsibly. Alligator attacks have caused 24 deaths in Florida since 1973, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Remember they are an important part of Sanibels natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. During cooler months, alligators are generally lethargic and do not move around much. Attached to the Shipley Trail and close to the Bailey Homestead. United States - sad news of an Alligator attack on Sanibel - A woman who had worked on Sanibel for many years was attacked by an alligator while working. Alligator on Sanibel Island - YouTube View from the wooden bridge that leads to Bowman's beach on Sanibel island View from the wooden bridge that leads to Bowman's beach on Sanibel. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The animal will be euthanized. Nov. 8, 2007: A man who jumped into a lake to flee police at the Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center was killed by an alligator more than 9 feet long. Crews are starting the long-term repairs after Hurricane Ian, causing traffic jams in Southwest Florida. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. 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. - A professional landscaper died Friday after being mauled by a 12-foot alligator that dragged her into a pond and nearly tore off one of her arms. FULL STORY:https://t.co/s8YiqlIH9V pic.twitter.com/HIf2fsEoQj. Since 1948, 491 people have been bitten. Visit Gatorbites Website. So he wants everyone to remember to be cautious. "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. 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. 8:49 PM EST, Mon December 19, 2022 A A SANIBEL, Fla. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him on the arm. Howsmon, 54, said the gator population needs to be thinned. Nevertheless, the mayor believes the island will be open on January 2. Janie Melsek Photo: The News-Press. 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. Come see htem for yourself and book your next Sanibel Holiday vacation. Remember they are an important part of Sanibel's natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. GatorBites Tail & Ale Do not swim outside of posted swimming areas or in waters that might be inhabited by large alligators. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. The alligator believed to be responsible was killed. Sanibel has a special permit from the state allowing it to move gators under 8 feet long that get in the way of humans as long as theyre not acting aggressively. Campbell was a Tennessee visitor who was snorkeling in a secluded recreation area. Jeannie Pitts was throwing the frisbee with her dog, Honey, when a gator splashed out of the water. The cause of death was listed as systemic inflammatory response syndrome.. "A landscaping woman was clearing out weeds in the decorative pond when she reached in and an alligator came up and grabbed her," Adams said. Yetsko and his wife, Donna Yetsko, 51, were doing yard work of their own Friday when they learned Melsek had died. The alligator dragged her into a pond, tearing at her right arm so severely that part of it was later amputated, and rescuers saved her from the reptile's jaws in what was described as a fierce "tug-of-war.". 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.
alligator attacks on sanibel island
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