DAILY NEWS (Jacksonville, N Carolina) 23 May 06 Onslow man respects gators (Roselee Papandrea)
When Wayne Petteway heard about the recent fatal alligator attacks in Florida, he immediately felt guilt.
He calls it survivor’s guilt.
Petteway hasn’t been to Florida recently, but he knows a lot about alligator attacks. He was attacked by a 10-foot alligator in the New River near Town Point Beach at Camp Lejeune in June 2001.
“At first I felt guilty about it — you know, surviving something like that,” said Petteway, 39, of the Southwest area. “Then I realized it was a gift from God. Doctors told me I would never use my arm again, but I can use my arm again. So not only do I have my life, but I can use my arm.”
Despite the attack, Petteway still goes out on the New River. He still enjoys the water just like he always did, but he’s not about to take any chances when it comes to alligators.
“I’m not afraid of alligators, but I’m smart enough to stay away from them,” Petteway said. “I know not to trust them. They’re tricky.”
Officials don’t know the exact reasons why three different alligators attacked and killed three people in South Florida earlier this month. The deaths are three of only 17 confirmed fatalities caused by alligators since 1948, according to the Associated Press.
After Petteway was attacked, officials with the N.C. Wildlife Commission told The Daily News that Petteway fed the alligator and that’s why it attacked him. At the time, it was the only recorded alligator attack in North Carolina’s history.
Since Petteway’s fight with an alligator, there was a second attack in Wilmington last year. Robbie Norville, biologist with N.C. Wildlife Commission, said last week that both attacks were provoked and that Petteway fed the alligator.
Petteway insists he didn’t feed the alligator that attacked him — at least not until after it attacked — and he’s upset that wildlife officials keep accusing him of provoking the alligator that attacked him.
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Petteway said. “I’ll admit that. It was protecting its nest.”
Petteway, his brother, Joel, and Joel’s wife, Gloria, all went to Town Point Beach on June 9, 2001, to enjoy some time in the river. They had two crab pots in the water and spent most of their time playing with a Frisbee, Petteway said.
Before they left the water for the day, they decided to go and check their crab pots. On the way, they heard a big splash.
“My brother’s wife started screaming, ‘Alligator coming, alligator coming,’” Petteway said. “I thought she was playing with us.”
He turned back and saw the alligator coming their way. It was initially moving in on his brother, so Petteway started splashing. The alligator changed directions and headed toward Petteway. Both continued splashing, which confused the alligator, but eventually it headed right for Petteway, who was trying to get on shore.
“He grabbed my left arm and picked me up off my feet and started to roll me,” he said.
Petteway decided the alligator wasn’t going to kill him and fought back. The alligator eventually had him by both arms and started to push him to shore.
“From that point, I knew I was going to live,” Petteway said.
Joel pulled him, and Gloria started to whack the reptile with a pole. When she stuck the metal in the alligator, it let go of Petteway’s arm. That’s when Joel took the crab bait to lure the alligator down the river.
“That’s when we fed the alligator,” Petteway said.
Later, when Petteway was wheeled from Onslow Memorial Hospital’s emergency room to a helicopter that was airlifting him to Duke University Hospital where he underwent several surgeries to repair the damages to his left arm, Petteway made a comment that he believes was misconstrued.
Someone asked him what he was doing with the alligator. Petteway said he rose up on the stretcher and said, “I was feeding him my arm.”
“I was joking,” Petteway said. “I was doped up on morphine.”
Doctors told Petteway he wouldn’t have use of the arm again; but within three months, it was better. He can’t lift heavy objects, but it works just fine, he said.
In December 2001, the Discovery Health Network featured Petteway in a program called “Impact,” which included stories about amazing medical recoveries.
Petteway is thankful he survived his ordeal, and he doesn’t think people who spend time in the water should be afraid of alligators. They just need to know they are plentiful in the New River, which is their natural habitat.
“Enjoy the water and don’t be afraid,” he said. “But respect it and respect the things that are around it.”
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