Florida teen loses arm to an alligator

A 17-year-old male lost his arm from the elbow down in an alligator attack Monday.

Kaleb Langdale was swimming in the Caloosahatchee River when an alligator assaulted him, according to NBC2 Florida. The 11-foot gator was found and killed. Langdale’s arm was found inside the alligator, but doctors were unable to attach it. Another 12-foot alligator was also trapped and killed the same day. The two gators had been called into city officials Monday to be trapped.

“This area isn’t Disneyland. It’s right next to Lake O, and there are thousands of alligators here,” said FWC Captain Jeff Ardelean.

Friends of the boy say the attack was unprovoked and the alligator had just come from nowhere, “It ended up being about a 10-and-a-half-foot gator who came straight at him. It came at him and he put his arm in the way instead of letting it get to his body. It took his arm and took him under,” said friend Matt Baker.

Officials say that it is alligator mating season and attacks during this time of year are not uncommon, “Any type of splash in the water is prey for them,” Captain Ardelean said.

Langdale is said to be in good spirits. His friends say he is happy that it was his right arm because he steers his airboat with his left arm.