LAKELAND, Fla. (WFTS) - An 85-year-old man was bitten by an alligator at a Florida retirement community, the Florida Wildlife Commission said.
The incident happened at the Cypress Lakes Retirement Community in Lakeland Monday afternoon.
The man was reportedly bitten on the foot and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center. The extent of his injuries are unknown.
Sheriff’s deputies called a wildlife trapper, who removed the gator. Experts estimated its size at 9’9”.
Jane Rickel, who lives nearby, said trappers found the man’s white sneaker in the gator’s mouth.
“His wife heard him screaming supposedly. And I guess his neighbor came to his rescue. There isn’t a pond in here that doesn’t have alligators,” Rickel said.
The retirement community posted on its Facebook page about the incident and reminded residents about safety around alligators.
