Man in Florida attacked by alligator while swimming in lake – arm amputated

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida man who was seriously injured in an alligator attack over the weekend had to have his arm amputated, according to NBC affiliate WESH.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the man’s arm was amputated from the elbow down.

According to officials, the man was swimming in Lake Monroe around 2 a.m. Sunday when he was attacked.

“Alligators are naturally very suspicious of humans and in most cases don’t actually mean to hurt us. Many cases of alligator bites are a case of mistaken identity,” Lauren Claerbout of the FWC told WESH.

Claerbout said when people feed the alligators, they lose their fear of humans and learn to associate them with good. Alligators then hunt humans because they think they are a meal.

The FWC is still investigating the attack.

To report a nuisance alligator, call the FWC toll-free hotline at 866-392-4286.