Alligator attacks cleaner

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

LAKE WORTH, FL — A man was attacked by an alligator and dragged underwater while cleaning up trash along the shore of Lake Osbourne at John Prince Park, according to WPBF-TV.

Raymundo Velasco was using a skimmer and tongs to collect debris when the eight to 10 foot alligator attacked him; Velasco successfully fended off the alligator and climbed back ashore, the story stated.

Velasco suffered injuries to his arm and hand but continued to work after wrapping the wound in a plastic bag and securing it with crime scene tape left by police from a recent call in the area, the story noted.

Velasco was airlifted to Delray Beach Medical Center after the rare winter alligator attack while a trapper hired by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission quickly came to the scene to hunt the alligator, the story added.