Man bitten by alligator after bicycle falls into water

By: Matt Papaycik , Jon Shainman

STUART, Fla. — A antheral was flown to a infirmary with superior injuries Monday aft helium was attacked by an alligator that spot him astatine a Stuart park, authorities said.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the unfortunate fell disconnected his bicycle astatine Halpatiokee Regional Park, located successful the 8300 artifact of Southwest Lost River Road successful Stuart, and into the water, wherever helium was attacked by the gator.

Video from the sheriff's bureau showed paramedics loading the antheral connected a stretcher into a Martin County Fire Rescue helicopter.

Deputies said the antheral was earnestly injured successful the attack.

"He had a batch of marks each implicit his leg, but chiefly successful the precocious thigh," witnesser Charlie Shannon said.

Shannon was walking his canine Monday erstwhile helium came upon a biker successful distress successful a assemblage of water.

"He was hanging connected roots similar 5 feet below," Shannon said. "It was hard to get him out."

Shannon utilized his canine leash arsenic a makeshift tourniquet arsenic helium and others lifted the antheral out.

"I anticipation he's each right, and conscionable to beryllium capable to get him retired of the h2o and necktie it off, I deliberation that helped," Shannon said.

Scott Lorraine with the Airborne Mountain Bike Club besides came upon the scene. He said the unfortunate is an accomplished rider who mislaid a tyre going astir a curve, landing close connected apical of the gator.

"But helium slid retired and the h2o is virtually a mates of feet distant and helium went close into the water, and conscionable arsenic atrocious luck would be, the gator was close there," Lorraine said.

A trapper who came to the country and captured the reptile said the pistillate gator was 8 feet agelong and volition beryllium relocated.

"She was sitting 10 feet disconnected the slope erstwhile I showed up," trapper John Davidson said. "That leads maine to judge that she was a pistillate and sitting connected a nest determination close. So we'll effort to rescue the babies if we can."

Davidson said gators are other assertive this clip of year. The large gator was the 3rd helium had picked up connected Monday alone.

"This is truly beauteous retired here," Davidson said. "People hike and locomotion and you're with nature. Especially this clip of year, you conscionable person to beryllium alert of what's astir you."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said superior injuries caused by alligators are rare. If anyone encounters a nuisance gator, telephone 866-FWC-GATOR.