Teen uses 'Swamp Men' move to save self from alligator
A Florida teenager lost part of his arm in an alligator attack on Monday, but the boy's family says the outcome could have been worse if the 17-year-old hadn't been a fan of the National Geographic show "Swamp Men."
Kaleb "Fred" Langdale was swimming with friends in in the Caloosahatchee River in Moore Haven in southwest Florida when an 11-foot alligator attacked, according to a report from CNN affliate WINK-TV.
"As soon as he'd seen Fred, the gator was coming after him. On top of the water, as fast as he could pedal, his tail was wagging back and forth, he was coming," Langdale's friend Gary Beck told WINK.
That's when the teen's TV gator knowledge kicked in, his sister, Rebecca Langdale, said in an interview with the Fort Myers News Press.
Rebecca, who visited her brother in the hospital, said he told her that as the alligator approached him he grabbed the skin under the animal's mouth to try to prevent it from biting him.
After preventing the initial attack, Fred tried to swim away from the gator, Rebecca Langdale said.
"When he turned to swim, it grabbed his arm," she said. "And he knew once it grabbed his arm, he was going to lose it."
"So he put both his feet on the alligator's head and pushed and pretty much took his own arm off before the alligator could," Rebecca said.
Langdale's aunt, LaDawn Hayes, said Fred learned the move from watching "Swamp Men," according to the News-Press.
"He knows if he offers (the gator) his arm, he won't take his torso. He was smart, he took the risk," another of Fred's friends, Matthew Baker, told WINK.
Beck told CNN affiliate WBBH that after freeing himself from the gator, Langdale called for help.
"He was waving saying, 'Call the paramedics! My arm is gone!'" WBBH quoted Beck as saying.
The gator was later caught and killed by trappers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The boy's arm was recovered, according to reports, but the doctors were unable to reattach it.
Glades County Sheriff Stuart Whiddon told WINK that gator attacks are rare in the area, but fish and wildlife officials said this is an active time of year for the reptiles.
"It's just after mating season, eggs are already laid, but the gators are still very active," WINK quoted Jeff Ardelean as saying. "Any type of commotion on the water is potential food in their eyes."
One would think they'd teach you to not swim around alligators on the show but at least the boy learned through some maneuvering and quick thinking he was able to merely sacrifice an arm.
Always thought the game plan (besides nlws' sage advice re not swimming in gator infested water) was try to get on top of the gator and gouge its eyes out/stick your thumb up its butt or get a hold of its mouth when its closed because gators have almost zero ability to open their mouths when even minimal pressure is applied. Either way zero chance I'm just giving up on an arm.
I've had habits of the finest pharmaceutical and illicit dope ever made and I can't imagine continuing to use if your fucking face is falling off. ROFL.
I guess your life must really really suck. Jesus Fucked Christ.
Reasons why one should watch Swamp People.
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