An alligator bit a woman on the elbow while she was kayaking at a Florida nature preserve, prompting a major rescue effort with authorities traversing land and air to find her in a remote area.
The woman was bitten Monday at the Tiger Creek Preserve in Polk County, about 40 miles southeast of Lakeland, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Personnel with the state agency and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and airlifted the woman to a hospital for treatment without providing her condition, according to local news reports.
At the preserve, a contracted alligator trapper was called in to remove the predator.
A 911 recording obtained by The Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network, details the chaotic scene that unfolded after the woman was attacked.
‘She’s in pain, a lot of pain’
The caller said the woman was bleeding profusely from a puncture and tear type wound and in need of a torniquet. She was mostly out of the water and on some ground in a nearby swampy or marsh area.
As the call proceeded, the caller said the woman was going into shock and was reporting a lot of pain but was still able to speak. The caller later said her breathing was rapid and her pulse was dropping.
“She is beginning to get weak,” he said. “She’s beginning to go into shock. … She’s in pain, a lot of pain.”
Meanwhile, the 911 dispatcher continued to reassure the caller that help was on the way by boat and air. She also told him and the patient to stay far away from the animal.
Water rushes over an alligator a day after three days of heavy rains in the Everglades in Fort Myers, Fla., on June 14, 2024.
“Where is the animal?” she asked.
“The animal disappeared but it might not be that far away,” he said.
The caller said that after the alligator bit the woman, about 20 people rushed to her aid. Because of her pain, she was unable to move, get bandaged, or climb back in the boat to be towed to a ramp and meet first responders.
At 33 minutes into the nearly 45-minutes call, a helicopter could be heard and the kayakers started to wave their paddles. Eventually, the caller reported it seemed as if the copter was trying to land.
An alligator moves through the Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 15, 2024 in Delray Beach, Florida. The warmer climate found in the southern United States provides a welcome habitat for a wide assortment of aquatic birds and other wildlife.
Severe alligator bites are rare
Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP),” the agency said in a statement. “SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.
The FWC recommends the following precautionary measures near alligators, including in or near the water, to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators:
Alligators in Polk: Among the state’s most alligator-infested lakes, Polk County shows up a lot. Surprise? Nah
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Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.
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If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
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Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
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Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
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Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Kayaker airlifted to safety after being bitten by alligator in Florida
