On Thursday, 5 September around 7 pm an 84-year-old lady took her dog for a walk in their Florida neighborhood. Little did they know that this would be a walk they would never forget, and unfortunately not because of the beautiful sunset!
Eerie Feeling
Del Boppel, the 84-year-old lady, said she had a sudden feeling that something was wrong as she was walking her Shi Tzu, Queen. And she couldn’t have been more right! Out of nowhere, a 7-foot 3-inch alligator rushed towards them with such great speed that she barely had time to react. Luckily, Del’s instincts took over when she saw the massive reptile torpedoing towards them and she threw her beloved Queen up in the air.
Quick Reactions
With Queen out of the way, the gator sunk his teeth into Del. But, brave as she is, Del fought back by giving the alligator a punch in the face causing it to retreat and leave them alone. It was around this time when Mark Burlingham, who lives in the neighborhood heard the terrifying screams and rushed outside to investigate.
Shock
What Mark found must have given him the shock of a lifetime! Del and Queen were lying on the ground with Del’s bones visible through the bloody gashes on her arm, hand, and leg from the gator-induced injuries. He immediately phoned 911 and said she was lucky to be alive, as it was one thick alligator!
Response
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), EMS, and Lee County’s Sheriff’s Office all responded to the scene and rushed her off to the hospital where she was treated for her serious injuries. Despite being attacked by an alligator, Del was in high spirits and eager to return to her beloved Queen.
The Alligator
A nuisance alligator trapped the massive reptile, after which it was humanely euthanized to keep the people in the area safe. The FWC suggested that Florida residents keep a safe distance when they spot an alligator and never feed them. Another suggestion was to keep pets, even those on leashes, away from the water’s edge as they might imitate natural prey for these animals, especially between dusk and dawn when alligators are most active.
Previous Florida Alligator Injuries
The FWC also states that serious alligator-induced injuries are rare in the area even though they occur. In their latest report on alligator bites, the FWC noted that 9 alligator bites happened in 2021 and 11 in 2022. The state recorded only 190 alligator attacks on humans between 2009 and 2022, of which 12 were fatal. CNN previously reported on a fatal incident where a 10-foot alligator attacked and dragged an 85-year-old woman walking her dog in Fort Pierce, Florida into a pond.
Alligator Aggression
As a rule, alligators don’t view humans as prey which means that in most cases they will leave humans be. Yet, as this story proves, unprovoked attacks can happen and is mostly a case of unusual behavior or a case of mistaking humans for prey. As human development enters these reptiles’ natural habitats, the scarcity of food and loss of habitat may cause them to act in unpredictable manners. Making it all the more important to be wary of these animals when spotted.
Last Thoughts
Well, one thing is certain, Del’s bravery and quick thinking might have caused her some significant injuries, but saved her beloved Queen’s life! Incidents like these act as a reminder to always be aware of wild animals and their unpredictable actions. We are just happy that both Del and Queen could live to tell the tale!
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