10-Foot Alligator Bites Teen Playing With Dogs Near Florida Pond, Official Issues Warning

A 10-foot alligator attacked a teen while he was walking near a pond in Charlotte County, Florida, on Tuesday (June 2).

According to local reports, the 14-year-old boy and his mother were walking near the pond when the incident took place.

“The boy and his mother were here with their two dogs and they were just enjoying the weather with their two dogs and playing near the shoreline there,” senior officer Adam Brown, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said. The alligator bit the boy on his leg and hand.

Charlotte County Fire and EMS arrived at the scene and rushed to the boy to Tampa General Hospital. He suffered an open fracture to the leg and his injuries were not life-threatening.

Following the incident, the gator was trapped by FWC officials.

“The alligator will be removed and taken to an alligator farm in Glades County,” Brown said. He warned people to be careful as all the water bodies in the state have alligators.

“If you’re anywhere near any body of water in the state of Florida there’s probably going to be an alligator nearby,” he said, adding, “We don’t want anyone to feed or entice or molest an alligator in any way, we don’t want to create a conflict where there is no conflict there.”

The incident comes days after a Florida alligator farm employee was attacked by a gator. Jim Darlington, who was in a canoe, was bitten by a 12-foot-long alligator in Augustine Alligator Farm’s swamp area. The reptile pulled him into the water and bit him. Darlington managed to break free. He was rushed to a local hospital by paramedics.

“His years of experience with crocodilians helped him to get out of the situation as safely as possible. Jim is doing well and receiving treatment at Flagler Hospital. We invite you all to join us in wishing Jim the best and quickest recovery,” the farm administration said. The gator was left in the swamp as the owner of the farm believed that the gator was just behaving naturally.