10-foot alligator bites off man’s hand as he swims in Fla. canal; appendage may be reattached

10-foot gator bites off man’s hand in Fla. canal

NAPLES, Fla. — Florida wildlife officials say a 10-foot alligator bit off a man’s hand while he was swimming in a canal with friends.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Gabriella Ferraro says 18-year-old Timothy Delano of Naples is recovering at a hospital. Officials managed to catch the gator and retrieve the hand from its stomach, and doctors may be able to reattach the hand.

Ferraro says Delano was swimming with three friends around 9:30 p.m. Sunday when the alligator attacked.

The men swam to shore and drove to a gas station, where they called 911. Delano was flown by helicopter to a hospital.

Wildlife officials say people should stay out of freshwater canals and lakes this time of year because alligators are more active, especially around dawn and dusk.