Alligator pulled from Florida pond after attacking retiree

An 85-year-old Florida man was bitten on his foot by an alligator in a retirement community pond, where it was captured Monday with the victim’s white sneaker still in its mouth. 

Polk County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Brian Bruchey says the nearly 10-foot-long reptile pounced on the retired US Marine living with his wife at the Cypress Lakes Retirement Community at 10000 US Highway 98 North in Lakeland in the afternoon.

According to a post on the retirement community’s website, the victim, identified by his neighbor only as George, was attacked by the alligator while chasing birds off his property.

Snapped up: Trappers in Florida are pictured Monday capturing a nearly 10-foot-long alligator that had attacked an 85-year-old man at a retirement community in Lakeland 

Caught red-handed: This screenshot shows the victim's white sneaker still in the alligator's maw at the time of his capture 

Caught red-handed: This screenshot shows the victim’s white sneaker still in the alligator’s maw at the time of his capture 

The man was attacked in his backyard while chasing birds off of his property 

The man was attacked in his backyard while chasing birds off of his property 

Landscaper Edward Donnelly was working nearby when he heard the resident’s screams and found the man lying in agony on the ground with his foot looking ‘gruesome,’ as the Good Samaritan told Bay News 9.

Donnelly used a towel to help stop the bleeding and called for help. 

He said the victim told him that after locking its jaws on his foot, the alligator attempted to drag him down into the water.  

WTNH reported that the injured retiree was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery to save his foot. He is expected to recover.  

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then had a licensed trapper come in and remove the nuisance alligator from the pond. 

The victim, a retired US Marine, survived the attack, despite the gator's efforts to drag him into the pond

The victim, a retired US Marine, survived the attack, despite the gator’s efforts to drag him into the pond

The nuisance alligator is seen in this screenshot thrashing in the water of the pond 

The nuisance alligator is seen in this screenshot thrashing in the water of the pond 

The large alligator, seen above after its capture by trapper, will likely be euthanized

The large alligator, seen above after its capture by trapper, will likely be euthanized

Video captured the moment the 9-foot-9 beast was yanked out of the water with the victim’s shoe in its jaws, confirming that it was the right animal. 

Once on dry land, the alligator was pinned to the ground, restrained and carted away.  

According to wildlife officials cited by ABC Action News, the alligator will likely be euthanized.   

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