Took for a log: in Florida, an alligator bit a researcher who accidentally stepped on it

A minute ago the woman was doing her job - and now she is already fighting off the alligator. A South Florida water management employee accidentally stepped on a reptile while working in one of the state's lakes and was bitten on the leg.

Фото: Depositphotos

The attack occurred on Thursday, September 5, around 10: 45 in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxachi National Wildlife Refuge, writes CBS12 News. According to local workers, such an attack is not typical and was only the second case since the 1951 of the year in these parts.

It all started as a regular work day for 31-year-old Kelsey Pollack of West Palm Beach, who works as a full-time research analyst in the South Florida water resources district.

But the day continued unusually. The woman was in waist-deep water wearing special high boots; she was conducting research when she accidentally stepped on an alligator. Pollack realized she had stumbled upon something, but decided it was a log. And then the “log” bit her on the leg and swam away.

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Pollack quickly climbed a tree, and her colleague called for help. Paramedics took the woman to the hospital.

Visitors to the park were not surprised, although such attacks are extremely rare here.

"You shouldn't step on alligators, and if you don't know they're there, you're still on their territory, so they might bite you," said Mark Chiavola, a visitor from Delray Beach.

"I think we should respect nature because we're coming to where they live," said Stephanie Dolch, a visitor from West Palm Beach.

One of the visitors to the reserve was shocked to hear about an alligator bite. He even brought relatives from New Jersey, hoping to show them an alligator 2,5 meter long, whom he calls George and whom he saw during a previous visit.

“George is a big alligator, I haven’t seen him in a long time,” Joshua Salama said.

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Salama says that after the attack he will walk more carefully around the reserve with his relatives.

“I’m not going to bring them to the swamps, we’ll stay on the paved road,” he said.

South Florida Water Authority officials said that Pollack had “put on quite a few stitches,” but regular visitors to the reserve have little risk since the area where the woman was attacked is closed to the public.

Pollack injuries are not considered life threatening. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the incident.

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