All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Robert Steele, 81 . Since 1948, 491 people have been bitten. The attack on Melsek made headlines internationally because of a heroic effort to save her by several men who heard her screams and Sanibel Police officers who rushed to her aid. Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. Leave alligators alone. According to the press release, the man suffered a serious injury to his right forearm. In April 2004, a 74-year-old woman was grabbed by the leg and pulled underwater by a 9-foot, 7-inch gator. High humidity will make our afternoon feels like temperatures reach the 90s in many spots. Enter one or more recipient email addresses separated by commas or spaces. Olin was taken to HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers for appropriate treatment, to include antibiotics to ward off any infection. We just want to see a sensible distance between the two! Wind gusts will not become as strong as yesterday. It will be euthanized. An 11-foot-4-inch, 407-pound alligator that was confirmed to have killed her was euthanized. The first 911 call, from Olin's co-worker, came at 11:18 a.m. "It wasn't really that big and it wasn't that deep," Murray said of the pond. Sanibel has a special permit from the state allowing it to move gators under 8 feet long that get in the way of humans as long as theyre not acting aggressively. "But the gators are out here. Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. They find their way back is what they do.. According to officers, the man was washing his hands in the pond when the alligator attacked.. So it wouldve been devastating, so Im just happy that it turned out the way that it did, and I just want to let other people know that theyre actually there right off the causeway, and that, you know, for people to be careful.. There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. The 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at a lake in Walt Disney World and whose body was found Wednesday was one of 16 people killed in alligator attacks in Florida since 1997. Alligator on the beach - Sanibel Island! I think its pretty scary, Ill tell you that, said Elaine Smith, a customer service representative at Bank of the Islands. An alligator is seen during a kayak tour near Everglades City on Dec. 2. They rushed to the scene to help the wounded man. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 A fish kill is filling up the water in Southwest Florida. The myth that they cant catch you if you run in a zig zag is not true. So he wants everyone to remember to be cautious. Sanibel Fires Division Chief Tim Barrett told Fox 4 that the alligator was between 8 and 10 feet long. Fatality Rate: Alligator Attacks = 4.3% Shark Attacks = 1.5%. Michelle Braun 13 subscribers Subscribe 625 views 1 year ago After a fun day at the beach, many of us were relaxing under our umbrellas; taking in the. Alligator on Sanibel Island - YouTube View from the wooden bridge that leads to Bowman's beach on Sanibel island View from the wooden bridge that leads to Bowman's beach on Sanibel. Gators are common in Florida and Chief Barrett said they respond to these types of calls more often than you will think. Beaches remain closed on the island without boardwalks, and debris is scattered everywhere. Guide to Sanibel Restaurants Sanibel Island is currently closed to non-residents, with the exception of first responders and recovery workers, as local authorities continue storm cleanup. Youve got to be careful., Turf Masters Brands expands with recent acquisitions, Project EverGreen receives $50,000 matching grant from MEDC, Schill Grounds Management promotes 4 to senior positions, Schill Grounds Management acquires GrassCor, SavATree merges with Lyndon Tree Care & Landscaping. Never feed or entice alligators it is dangerous and illegal. You have to have your head on a swivel and be smart, especially with regard to small animals and small children; if youre down near the waters edge, theres a potential gator there. A nearby alligator behaved aggressively toward the divers, and was trapped and euthanized. Denial is not just a river in Egypt this can happen and does happen. Latest News Updates for Sanibel Island & SWFL. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Oct. 19, 2015: The body of 62-year-old James Okkerse was found floating in Blue Springs State Park in central Florida with injuries consistent with an alligator attack. Chamber Executive Director Steve Greenstein insisted that wasnt true. Since many of the residential neighborhoods on the Island contain lakes or interface with conservation lands containing wetlands, interaction between humans and alligators is likely. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Robert Steele, 82, was killed by a 10 foot, 9 inch-long gator Sept. 11, 2001, near his house on Rabbit Road in Sanibel on Sept. 11, 2001. Remember they are an important part of Sanibels natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. A photo of the aftermath of the attack is so graphic we had to blur it, but with a closer . May 4, 2001: The chewed body of 70-year-old Samuel Wetmore was found floating in a south Sarasota County retention pond with an 8-foot alligator circling nearby. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures safely, respectfully, and responsibly. There are. The cause of death was listed as "systemic inflammatory response syndrome." FWCs gator trappers gave us a close up of the gator after it was captured. Administrative Services/ Human Resources/ Benefits/ Pensions, Business Tax Receipts (formerly Occupational Licenses), Police including Emergency Management Forms, Register with AlertLee for Emergency Announcements, Register for Recreation Center Activities, City of Sanibel Demographics - April 27, 2021, Commercial Hurricane Re-Entry Application. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. The attack occurred at a pond near 2477 Periwinkle Way, which abuts Frannies Preserve, a forested area with hiking trails, and a few blocks south of J.N. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. Poor Janie is the one who had to suffer for it.. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. Stay 50 feet away from an Alligator, though they may seem lethargic, they can move fast and run up to 35 mph especially during the warmer summer months. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Local Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel. The man was able to free. They are often spotted on Sanibel (though rarely on Captiva) which is a wonderful habitat for them as much as it is a great vacation + Read More Here The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island Full story: https://t.co/s8YiqlIH9V pic.twitter.com/E1AvLHu7IS, Hes a big guy, he said his arm was hurting pretty good," said Sanibel Fire's Division Chief Tim Barrett. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. Lee County announced that several beach parksLynn Hall Memorial Park, San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, Bonita Beach Park and Bonita Beach Accesses 1 to 10would reopen on Saturday. Ironically, Olin lives on the same street as Sanibel's only other fatal gator attack victim. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. Alligators can climb and quite well, just something to be aware of. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. There are many misconceptions about Alligators but they are still dangerous and as humans, we have to behave, Forgotten Sanibel Recipe Lemon Pecten Cakes, Local Sanibel Artist Rachel Pierce Hurricane Ian & Pop Up Shops, Sanibel Bailey Tract Trails & Meditation Hike! Come see htem for yourself and book your next Sanibel Holiday vacation. It was evident that hed lost a lot of blood and potentially had other damage to his tendons, Abo said. Its the orange cord wrapped around his arm. The gator released Melsek after a five- to 10-minute tug of war with the gator on one side of her and police on the other. Alligators on Sanibel are awesome to see, but you have to be careful and cautious, make sure you don't feed them or get to close! I can say that gentleman was sitting there with a temporary tourniquet, which is one of the things that saved his life from hemorrhaging, said Dr. Benjamin Abo. They should move the big ones to where theyre not around people.. Trappers later caught and killed an 8-1/2-foot alligator that had some of her body parts in its belly. Not only was there a game, but college students showed up for a dunk contest. I am linking the report. If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Sanibel Island. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Since alligators are cold-blooded reptiles, their metabolic rate increases and decreases as water and air temperatures fluctuate. Do not harass Alligators in any manner. They are native to Mexico, China, and the United States. The City of Sanibel has established procedures for receiving alligator and crocodile complainants and handling nuisance alligators or crocodiles. "She kicked it and it let her go.". Do not allow pets to swim, exercise, or drink in waters that may contain alligators or in designated swimming areas with humans. Harrity couldnt be reached for comment. - A professional landscaper died Friday after being mauled by a 12-foot alligator that dragged her into a pond and nearly tore off one of her arms. 2000s. According to the City of Sanibel, the Sanibel Police Department received a 911 call just after 11 a.m. about an adult man who an alligator had bitten in a pond adjacent to Baileys General [], Sanibel took a beating during Ian, and many people think it will be years before the island will ever be close to what it once was. Police shot the reptile to death before rushing Melsek to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. The man was able to free himself from the. And we love our tourists. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. One of the biggest issues people are dealing with when it comes to insurance after Hurricane Ian is property damage. There were three in the truck, but the one from the attack is the biggest one. As more people start to pile into the area, and beaches reopen, the fish kill will become a bigger problem. Mayor Marty Harrity met Friday with directors of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. According to Sanibel Fire Department, a 25-year-old man was attacked. Alligators On Sanibel Island - The SanCap Guide It's the sunshine state! The man was able to free himself and call 911, but sustained serious injury to his right. Five years ago last week Sanibel Island landscaper Janie Melsek lost her life to complications from an alligator attack. His mother told authorities he had been standing in knee-deep water picking water lilies for her. These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. Tribal police divers found the body of Justo Antonio Padron, 36, the next afternoon, with alligator teeth marks on the upper torso. Steve Yetsko, 52, who lives around the bend from the house at 3061 Poinciana Circle where Melsek was working when she was attacked, was among those who ran to her aid. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel). You cant relocate them, he said. Sept. 11, 2001, 82-year-old Robert Steele had his leg severed and bled to death when he was attacked by a 10-foot alligator while walking his dog by a Sanibel Island canal. May 10, 2006: The dismembered body of Yovy Suarez-Jimenez, 28, was found by construction workers in a canal in Broward County. , there was a time they almost became extinct. Bryan Griffin was pulled under after friends repeatedly warned him to get out of the water. Police Chief Bill Tomlinson said hes been asked to make a presentation on city policies and the alligator complaints the city has recorded. My wife Lori and I have been running a successful photography business on the islands since 2000. (3.7 m) alligator while working on landscaping along Poinciana Circle Sanibel, Florida. 500,000 open heart surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, and half of those patients require a blood transfusion. A woman who had worked on Sanibel for many years was attacked by an alligator while working. After the gator was captured FWC's gator trappers gave Fox 4 a closer look at the gator that bit a man's arm. And myself, along with the fire department, were just a couple of minutes away, and were there pretty quickly to put on a commercial grade tourniquet and south of bleeding and do our assessment and provide emergency medical care for him, Abo said. GatorBites Tail & Ale A trapper later killed the alligator. During cooler months, alligators are generally lethargic and do not move around much. A press release from the City of Sanibel stated the man was using the pond to wash his hands when the alligator bit his right arm. I think its up to the city of Sanibel to decide if their policy is appropriate and theyll take whatever action is necessary to protect the public.. 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Top 9 Beautiful Beaches On Sanibel & Captiva Island 2022, 19 Best Restaurants On Sanibel Island 2022: A Local's Guide, The Ultimate Local Guide To Shelling On Sanibel Island 2022, 1619 Periwinkle Way, Suite 104 is 6,400 Acres of preserved and undeveloped mangrove ecosystem land. When fed, alligators lose their natural fear and learn to associate people with food. Weve encroached upon their turf. Hes my service dog, so he saves my life a lot, Pitts said. The man was able to free himself from the. They are often spotted on Sanibel (though rarely on Captiva) which is a wonderful habitat for them as much as it is a great vacation spot for us! The victim told Abo that he was trying to keep the alligator from pulling him into the water, and that if the nearly 10-foot animal rolled, a technique alligators use to harm prey, he would roll with it. The man was able to free himself and call . Sadly, there was a time they almost became extinct. She later died of the wounds. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. SANIBEL, Fla. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him on the arm. 1401 79th Street Causeway As I pulled up, the man was sitting on the side, with blood coming out, with an extension chord that that he used as a makeshift tourniquet, said Sanibel Fire & Rescue District medical director Dr. Benjamin Abo, who specializes in wilderness medicine and who treated the man on-site. I dont know if I agree with the brunt of the people blaming the alligator, Myerson said. Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators.