WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL (N Carolina) 05 July 05 Alligator attacks Wilmington man in lake - Signs prohibit swimming in Greenfield Lake; injuries not judged life-threatening
Wilmington (AP): A 10-foot-long alligator chomped down on a man's right arm then let him go while the man was swimming in a lake Sunday afternoon, officials said.
Floyd Masters, who is believed to be about 40, was treated for injuries Sunday night at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The injuries are not life-threatening, said Wilmington police Lt. J.D. Varrone.
Masters, of Wilmington, told police he was swimming in Greenfield Lakewhen he was attacked by the alligator near a wooden observation deck overlooking the water. Signs prohibiting swimming or disturbing alligators are posted around the lake.
Mike Core was standing on the deck with a friend when he saw a man go into the lake behind the city pumping station.
"This dude jumped in the lake and we saw him bobbing along in the water and we saw the alligator coming," Core said. The alligator made a beeline toward the disturbance in the water created by Masters, witnesses said.
"It latched right on to him. It was cutting right across the water and it got him," Core said. "I kept telling him, 'The alligator's coming. Get out! Get out!'"
Core and his friend were able to get Masters away from the shoreline, and he used his shirt to make a tourniquet for the bleeding arm. Core said that Masters also had bite marks on his chest, stomach and hand.
State wildlife officials and local police are investigating.
Masters was not available for comment.
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NEWS & OBSERVER (Raleigh, N Carolina) 06 July 05 Weekend gator attack only unprovoked one on record in state
Wilmington, N.C. (A): A man injured by an alligator is the only person on record in North Carolina to be hurt in an unprovoked attack, officials said Tuesday.
The only other alligator attack was against a person who walked into the water to feed the animal in Onslow County, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
"We have no record of unprovoked attacks," said wildlife biologist Robert Norville.
Wilmington police charged Floyd Eugene Masters with unlawful swimming, a city code violation. Masters, 39, suffered a bite wound on his right hand and a puncture wound to the left chest area after jumping into Greenfield Lake about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, police said.
Witnesses said the 10-foot alligator reacted to the disturbance in the water by swimming directly toward Masters and clamping down hard on his arm.
The alligator released its grip and two men were able to pull Masters to safety. He was listed Tuesday in fair condition in New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Masters was not hunting the animal, so state officials won't file additional charges, said Lt. Todd Radabaugh, of the enforcement division attached to the Wildlife Resources Commission.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/ncwire_news/story/2569533p-9004100c.html
