A child has been taken to hospital after being bitten by an alligator while swimming in a Florida lake on Labor Day.
The youngster, whose age and sex have not been disclosed, suffered bites to the arm and leg from the gator, which is believed to measure between nine and 12 feet in length, according to Hernando County Sheriff's Office. The incident took place in a preserve where swimming is prohibited.
Rescue from sandbar
The child was reportedly stuck on a sandbar in the Weeki Wachee Preserve alongside several other children on Monday afternoon, unable to reach the mainland. Hernando County Fire Rescue intervened, deploying an airboat to bring the children back to shore before administering medical treatment.
One child was transported to Bayonet Point Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, the county sheriff's office confirmed.
Trapper and investigation
A licensed Florida wildlife trapper attended the scene and set traps in an attempt to capture the animal responsible for the attack, according to NYP, reports the Daily Star. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has opened an investigation into the swimming violation.
Officials are urging the public to adhere to regulations at the state's waterways and to take extreme care. The sheriff's office stated: "Do not swim in areas where swimming is prohibited."
Preserve details
The Weeki Wachee Preserve covers more than 11,200 acres in west-central Florida, situated approximately 50 miles north of Tampa. The Southwest Florida Water Management District states on its website regarding the preserve: "no swimming allowed in any of the lakes."
