Late-night skinny dipper freed from 'gator jaws

[milmor_1]

Late-night skinny dipper freed from 'gator jaws

Friday December 1st 2006

A NAKED man has been rescued from the jaws of an alligator after his late-night skinny-dip ended in a losing battle with a 12ft reptile.

Four officers from the Polk county sheriff's department waded into the chest-deep water and mud of Lake Parker, 55 miles south of Orlando, to rescue Adrian Apga (45), from the jaws of the male alligator. He was in a serious condition in hospital last night after losing his left arm and suffering massive wounds to his legs and right arm.

The attack came six months after three women were killed by alligators in Florida over six days and rekindled the debate about human encroachment on the reptiles' natural habitat. Wildlife officials will decide this month if alligators will be stripped of their protected status, making it legal for homeowners to kill any they consider a nuisance.

Police were trying to establish why Mr Apgar, who woke neighbours with screams in the early hours of Wednesday morning, was naked in the lake.

Grady Judd, the sheriff of Polk county, said: "He admitted that he'd been smoking crack cocaine.

"But still, it's a human life. Our deputies don't ask questions - they respond and save people."

Mr Judd said that he questioned Mr Apgar's claim that he was sitting on a bench and was dragged into the water by the alligator, because of the victim's drugged condition.

The officers at the scene fought for up to 20 minutes to prise Mr Apgar from the alligator's jaws. They said that they did not fire their weapons for fear of hitting him.

Michael Parker, one of the rescuers who waded 40ft into the lake to reach him, said: "I remember him saying, 'I'm over here, get here quick, he's still got me, he's going to kill me, my arms are broken'."

The alligator was later killed by state wildlife officials and its carcass sent for processing into meat.

Late-night skinny dipper freed from 'gator jaws - Irish Independent

[Caldric]

And I thought it would be filthybeast again.

[Snowden]

Beast doesn't go after men, Scott!

With something as able to look after itself as an alligator is, it seems that homeowners who live near their habitats should either move or have the ability to shoot them. If something is after you to eat you, no matter how stupid you are, you should be able to defend yourself against it without some stupid law saying you can't do that.

Why live near them anyway? Makes no sense to me.

[Woodmonkey]

This idiot was high on crack. He's lucky the police were there and went in to rescue him.

[SherryGrace]

There are two things a man shouldn't do.

One is to walk naked, with his privates dangling freely, in front of a kitten.

The other is to not skinny dip in alligator infested waters.

I'm sure there are other...but these will get you started.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by SherryGrace

There are two things a man shouldn't do.

One is to walk naked, with his privates dangling freely, in front of a kitten.

The other is to not skinny dip in alligator infested waters.

I'm sure there are other...but these will get you started.

We know how vulnerable we women are, but nobody is more vulnerable than a man, especially when nude. Living near alligators - that's not a happy thought either. Even with clothes - hardly protection! But it was his arm he lost. This gator wasn't into tidbits.

[conlor]

Maybe the water was cold and there was shrinkage, so it wasn't as easily accessible.