59 Year Old Man In Critical Condition After Gator Attack in SC
WARNING THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC PHOTO!!!!
It appears that a day of snorkeling at Lake Moultrie ended with a man fighting for his life after a gator severed his arm in South Carolina’s worst gator attack.
Bill Hedden, 59, was in critical condition at the Medical University of South Carolina. His arm, retrieved from the belly of the alligator after wildlife officers shot it, was on ice while doctors evaluated whether it could be reattached, said Bill Salisbury, Berkeley County Rescue Squad captain.
Wildlife officials said it was one of the worst gator attacks in the state, but no one saw it except the victim.
Hedden stumbled into a party of picnickers with his arm missing and blood gushing from his wound. Five nurses were among those at the gathering and put ice on his wound and kept him awake until paramedics could arrive.
Jerome Bien followed the man’s trail of blood to the shore, where he saw the gator with victim’s arm in its jaw. “He was just smiling at me,” Bien said.
Department of Natural Resources officers showed up later and shot the animal, which was nearly 12-feet long and weight about 550 pounds. The officers cut the gator open and removed the man’s arm, which was bagged, put in an ice cooler and rushed to the hospital with a police escort.
Photo Allegedly Taken While Bystanders Waited for Wildlife Officials to Arrive and Kill the Gator
Just like bears & cougars the American Alligator is a predator that given the opportunity will attack man and on his turf he is one tough critter. People can not under estimate the risks they take when we enter their habitat. Sometimes I wonder if our society desensitizes us from the realities of the natural world around us. Those cute cuddle creatures we see on the TV are not as they are often depicted in shows. Swimming in areas that have Alligators is never a good idea.
Hopefully Mr. Hedden will survive this attack and that doctors will be able to reattach his arm.
I think you hit the nail right on the head. People watch television and movies and think that all wild animals are cuddly creatures. Most don’t have any real contact with them in the wild, so they don’t know or understand how savage nature can be.
Comment by Kristine Shreve — September 18, 2007 @ 8:59 am
What we need folks is education. We need to understand these creatures, and need to respect their space and allow them to play their role in the ecosystem. This is indeed a tragic event. Im sorry one of ours had to experience such an event for us to realize that alligators exist in places other than the everglades. My prayers for the Hedden family. I hope this event leads to more awareness, understanding, and respect which promotes the safety of those of us who inhabit places common to dangerous, but vital, predators and the animals which are simply trying to play their role in the ecosystem.
Comment by Angel — September 18, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Hate to say it, but Mr. Hedden did NOT use his head. I spent a week camping at Short Stay and left a few hours before this incident. The area he was snorkeling in was not part of Lake Moultrie but is a large pond within the Short Stay recreational area. It is clearly marked in multiple locations to watch for and beware of alligators. The gator was home. Mr. Hedden encroached. I hope he comes out of this OK, but, again, he didn’t use good common sense.
Comment by Rob — September 19, 2007 @ 6:57 am
This is what happens when you let people who don’t understand wildlife make up the management laws. All predators look at life as you are either to be feared and avoided or prey to be eaten. Open up more liberal hunting season on all large predators that includes wolves, bears, Mountain Lions, and gators. Stop worshipping the animals and start protecting the people.
Comment by Bruce — November 2, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Sorry, Bruce. You’ve got it wrong. The gator was where he was suppose to be. Mr. Hedden was in Mr. Gator’s house. Mr. Hedden may be a fellow retired Master Chief, but the area is clearly marked. If someone encroached upon your home, you would be entitled to shoot the SOB.
I’m no tree-hugger, but Mr. Gator’s home boundaries were clearly defined. The good Master Chief chose to ignore them, and thats that.
Rob
Comment by Rob — November 3, 2007 @ 4:56 pm