A good Samaritan drove La Verde to the hospital. His struggles with his health complications and his determination to work instead of begging for food could have led him to take the risky job. Scroll to read more Tampa Bay News articles. 'I heard a scream': Alligator bites Florida man's face in rare attack Lake Manatee park offers visitors several activities, including spotting several species of wildlife, including bobcats, quail, deer, and gopher tortoises. News outlets reported the case of 47-year-old Sean McGuiness, who earned a living by retrieving disk courses and selling each for $5. Scroll to read more Tampa Bay News articles. Residential development surrounds the lake. Wednesday it happened in Hillsborough County.. Monkeypox Cases Can Infect ANYONE According to Experts | WATCH, Kenan Thompson Set to Receive Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | VIDEO. Copyright 2023 NATURE WORLD NEWS All rights reserved. Doctors performed a craniectomy, or surgery to remove a portion of his skull. The USF Water Institute is committed to ensuring that our websites conform with Accessibility Support guidelines for people who need to use assistive technologies. Largo Police retrieved Sean McGuinesss body from the alligator-infested Taylor Lake on May 31, 2022. Dont Miss A Story. European immigrants later settled in the place. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10 | CNN) -- An alligator bit a man's face while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, according to officials. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him in the face at An alligator bit a man's face at Lake Thonotosassa in Florida - CNN Around 1.3 million alligators call Florida home, according to the FWC, living in all 67 counties in the state. & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. He specializes in travel content. The man was seriously injured after being bitten by the gator while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - It is hard to say what is more incredible, that JC Defeats was bitten in the head by an alligator and survived, or that the brutal attack was caught on camera. You will cover the flat section in a few minutes before embarking on the continuously climbing section that covers 3.7 miles to the lake. The 34-year-old victim survived the incident and was immediate hospitalized following yet another unprovoked alligator attack in the state. Alligator trappers were out on the lake looking for the gator. We Publish News 24/7. Later in the emergency room, La Verde underwent a six-hour craniotomy and jaw surgery that saw surgeons remove a section of his temporal lobe. In Florida, the FWC in November 2021 stated there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites from 1948 to 2021, with an average of six per year. Decline in the abundance of desirable sport fish. The man named Juan Carlos La Verde was . See a water quality problem happening? "He had a big gash on his face and he had a towel covering his wound, and then he said that they called 911. It is a challenging but manageable trail. Thank you for reading! Juan Carlos La Verde, 34, of Brandon, was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa last Wednesday afternoon when the alligator . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. DeSantis says Disney lawsuit is 'political', By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida. The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue transported the 34-year-old victim to the hospital, the FWC said, adding that it dispatched a contracted alligator trapper to the lake and is continuing to investigate the incident. 3 Florida Lakes with Alligator Attacks in 2022 - AZ Animals Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, which explains why cases of them attacking humans are rare. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. While most encounter occur the gator habitat, there are also instances when human-wildlife conflict transpires in residential areas. Man Hospitalized After An Alligator Bit Him In The Face At Lake 5:28 PM EDT, Sun August 7, 2022. An edition of: WaterAtlas.org Juan Carlos La Verde, 34, was swimming at the lake outside Tampa when, according to . This is a generic photo of Lake Thonotosassa and does not show the specific site of the attack. A file photo of an alligator with its mouth open. Find your God. "I didnt know what had happened I thought maybe he hit a rock or maybe there was something that spooked him," he said. 366 Reviews. The lake was also a religious site. The park offers several amenities, including a golf course, a walking trail, and . Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Shaquille ONeal Releasing New Hip-Hop Track to Celebrate NBA Playoffs, Elon Musk Announces Charging Option for Publishers on Twitter. Watch an Alligator Prepare to Attack a Bird Only to Be Eaten by Another Alligator Twice Its Size, Discover Why Alligators Wont Cross Georgias Fall Line, 3 Florida Lakes with Alligator Attacks in 2022, Bay News, Available here: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2022/06/08/gator-taylor-lake-mcguinness, Fox 13 News, Available here: https://www.fox13news.com/news/its-do-or-die-man-loses-arm-after-surviving-alligator-attack-at-lake-manatee, Tampa Bay, Available here: https://www.tampabay.com/news/2022/08/26/never-saw-the-alligator-how-a-tampa-bay-man-survived-vicious-attack/. There is a small swimming beach along the lakes shores where you could cool off during the summer. "The reason we've been calling on him is he's been coming up, you know, on our banks in front of the house, and he's not scared. 2. Increased abundance of non-native plant species. 105 Sampling Locations. Luckily, Merda lived but without one arm. La Verde did not have any safety goggles, and the low visibility made it difficult for him to see the approaching alligator. Visualize Tampa Bay sea level rise and changes to coastal habitats and the resulting "blue carbon" benefits, View bathymetry, vegetation surveys, and habitat analysis for west-central Florida tidal creeks, Be informed about important water-related news with implications in Hillsborough County and elsewhere, Watch these videos to learn how to protect and enjoy Tampa Bay's waterways, This interactive map brings all water resource-related information together in one place, Use this interactive map to find data from continuously-reporting monitoring stations, Use this tool to graph water resource data and to download data for your own analysis, Visualize spatial and temporal changes in important water quality measures, View the geographic distribution and variability of rainfall amounts, access statistical rainfall summaries, or download rainfall data, Find a particular water resource on any of the Water Atlas websites using this tool, Search our library of water-related documents, maps, websites, videos and organizations, Find information about habitat-enhancement projects in the Tampa Bay watershed from 1970 to the present, Be informed about important water-related news with implications in the Tampa Bay watershed, Find opportunities for recreation, volunteering, and citizen participation, Find information to help homeowners, businesses, and contractors reduce stormwater pollution, Watch these videos to learn about Tampa Bay and how you can help protect it, View images of Tampa Bay's people, places, and natural resources, Join other volunteers to keep tabs on these amphibian water quality sentinels, Learn about ways you can help to restore Tampa Bay's watersheds. Latest Sample 04/29/2023. Local authorities confirmed the incident occurred in the afternoon hours of Thursday. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Police suspect that the alligators were in their mating or nesting season when they became most irritable, which explains why they viciously attacked McGuiness. He also does not know why the alligator suddenly decided to let go, allowing him to safety. There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. Although the lakes name suggests that one will see a lot of manatees, visitors will not see any at the park because the dam prevents them from reaching the lake. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, McGuinesss risky job eventually cost him his life after an alligator attack. Taylor Lake is popular among hikers between Lake Louse and Banff because it does not have much traffic compared to the other parks near these towns. A waterfall also magnetically descends a 164-foot high cliff on the lakes western side. The man had been swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, towards the northeast of Tampa, when the attack . I was attacked by a 12ft long alligator - The Sun In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two alligators in Florida. Experts said alligators do not want anything to do with people. Man rushed to the hospital after being bitten by gator on Lake It was not until the man walked back to the private property where he had parked that it was clear he had been attacked by an alligator. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said agents contracted a nuisance alligator trapper at the location, but there has been no word if the specific gator has been captured. The agency recommends people stay away from alligators and avoid handling or feeding them. A man suffers 'serious injuries' after being attacked by an alligator in Florida. Florida Man Survives After Alligator Bites His Face While Swimming in Lake The alligator did not bite off his entire arm, and the doctors at Sarasota Memorial Hospital performed a surgery involving amputating the remaining parts of his right arm. However, the park management limits the maximum boat motor to 20 horsepower. Are There Alligators in Tampa Bay? (2023 Updated) Save. The man was swimming along the northern shoreline of Lake Thonotosassa. There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. Earliest Sample 09/11/1956. In the US alone, alligator attacks are common in the Florida and Louisiana. The victim was taken to a local hospital, but the extent of the injuries wasn't released by FWC. Man Loses Part of Skull in Horror Alligator Attack'I Was - Newsweek USF president says student protesters caused an active shooter response from staff, Tampa Theatre secures $14 million for repairs and restorations, Following report of a shrinking canopy, City of Tampa plans to plant 30,000 trees by 2030, Florida Republicans clear path for DeSantis to run for president without resigning, By Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida, Appeals court broadly supports most of 2021 Florida elections law, overturning judge's ruling, Florida Gov. Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama Jams w/Bruce Springsteen Will Smith Posts BTS of Emancipation & More | WATCH, Lil Meech Calls Cap on 2-Year-Old Pic w/Groupie Doctor Says Oral Sex Causes Throat Cancer & More | PicsVideos, Ne-Yo Says Celebs Are Weirdos-Hes Willing to Love Down A Plain Jane + Ime Udoka Publicly Apologizes for Affair & More | PicsVideos. As LaVerde swam alone near the shoreline, drone video shows a massive alligator swimming toward him. Thonotosassa, Lake is a 946 acre, Private lake located in Unincorporated Hillsborough County. 'A walking miracle': Brandon man survives after gator latches onto his The lake is popular among those who love to fish for bluegills, black crappies, and largemouth bass. Unfortunately, the park does not have lifeguards; swimming is at ones own risk. An alligator bit a mans face while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, according to officials. Luckily, the scary incident only lasted a few seconds, and La Verde managed to wrestle his way out of the jaws of death. Lake Thonotosassa Florida - Bass Online Fishing Adventures A number of these deadly alligator attacks occurred within the lake or its vicinity as people go near them. According to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, it was the 18th attack by an alligator this year. 7:49 am. It is also a private lake located 33 feet above sea level. But frequent run-ins with these creatures have resulted in several unprovoked attacks in Florida. Apart from the bite marks and losing blood, La Verde had experienced multiple injuries on his shoulders and back and severe nerve damage on the right side of his face. The park offers several amenities, including a golf course, a walking trail, and fishing activities on the lake. Max Steele Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The agency recommends people stay away from alligators and avoid handling or feeding them. 222,553 Samples. on Lake Thonotosassa covers over 800 acres and is the largest in Hillsborough County. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Four main challenges exist in the Lake Thonotosassa watershed: Nutrient loadings from the watershed have caused extreme nutrient-enrichment resulting in algal blooms. When you walk down it by the lake, you'll stand right there and look at you like he's in a hunting mode," he explained. They are followed by Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina in terms of the number of related gator attacks. An alligator bit a man's face while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, according to officials. Florida Man Attacked by 12ft Alligator: 'All I Felt Was - Newsweek Wake up to the day's most important news. Lake Thonotosassa is in Hillsborough County, near Tampa. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him in the face at a Florida drone video captures swimmer fighting off alligator A Florida man was hospitalized last week after an alligator bit him in the face. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice to Parents, Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Opens Up About Hollywood Casting Couch & More | PicVideos. An alligator bit a man's face while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, according to officials. And a Florida man was killed by an alligator while searching for Frisbees in a lake in late May. While the Plott hound is the state dog of North Carolina, it is a very rare breed and not well-known in other states. La Verde admitted to the newspaper that he hadnt taken precautions before swimming in the lake, such as examining the water for alligators and avoiding weedy areas during nesting and hatching season. This is a generic photo of Lake Thonotosassa and does not show the . Report it here. Two weeks after, the Brandon man is out of the hospital but has a long road to recovery ahead of him.. On Aug. 3, JC was at Lake Thonotosassa shooting an instructional video for an upcoming event through his company . Drone pilot Matt Ross was filming Juan Carlos La Verde, a firefighter and paramedic, when La Verde suddenly felt a 12-foot gator "pierce" his skin and make his head "pop," per Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Find him. Lake Thonotosassa is located in Hillsborough County near Tampa. Merda was visiting the fish camp when he lost his way while strolling in the woods. The alligator bit the face of a man while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, in a case of another unprovoked attack in the state. View our Accessibility Statement for more information. Click for details. 2023 Cable News Network. La Verde was recording an instructional film for his organization when the alligator attacked and engulfed his upper body up to his torso area. Two alligators killed elderly woman at Florida country club, says medical examiner, Man killed by alligator while searching for Frisbee in Tampa Bay park. All Rights Reserved. He figured out that his camp was on the opposite side of the lake and decided to swim across rather than walk around it. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call about the incident at around 3:45 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement shared with CNN. However, when they start being fed, they lose their fear of humans. There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. The man was swimming in lake Thonotosassa, Florida, when he bumped into an alligator with a length of nearly four meters. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . Related Article: Alligator Drinks Box of Diet Coke Cans at Florida Couple's Home, Tags Tampa Bay Restaurant Week is back! The Savannah Bananas will bring 'the greatest show in sports' to Tampa this weekend, New coffee in Seminole Heights, Chef Suzanne Lara has a new Tampa concept, and more Tampa Bay foodie news. Start typing the name of a water resource in the box below to see a list of matching waterbodies. The lake gets its name from the Thonotosassa area, a critical quarry for Seminole Indians. We welcome user submissions of documents, organizations, videos, etc. "This time of year you may have some females protecting some juveniles, the females stay around their babies for at least a year, sometimes longer," Costell said. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. Florida firefighter in ICU after alligator bites his face while The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue transported the 34-year-old victim to the hospital, the fish and wildlife commission said, adding that it dispatched a contracted alligator trapper to the lake and is continuing to investigate the incident. In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two . The 34-year-old was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa when the alligator struck, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He would make up to $150 daily from this job. But said theres been a nuisance gator causing issues, and for the last four months a trapper has been out repeatedly to try and remove it. He even heard a popping sound when the animals jaw snapped. 'It was pretty gnarly,' an unidentified witness said. The dam was constructed sometime in the 1960s. MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Alligator Eats Drone That Was Trying to Film A Close Up Of its Mouth Open (Watch). A contracted alligator trapper was dispatched into the area and an investigation is underway, according to a statement shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to CNN. Viral Video: Man Miraculously Survives After 12-Feet Alligator Bites The trail begins at the parks parking lot, which is separated from the park by a wildlife gate. "It was pretty gnarly, it was definitely an alligator bite on his face," he said. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said an alligator bit someone Wednesday afternoon, sending them to the hospital. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . The La Verdes on their boat in a lake behind their house, before the alligator attack. For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. Huge Florida Gator Eats a Smaller Florida Gator in Most Florida Video Ever. The alligator that attacked La Verde miraculously let him go after one massive bite on his head Credit: Getty. Its both a tragedy and a miracle at the same time, Ross told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. By "Ive been out here my whole life, we swim behind the house, my kids swim behind the house," said neighbor Jamie Slatton. Florida is the unofficial home of alligators, and residents encounter these reptiles in golf courses, homes, and roads. An alligator in Florida bit a man's head while he was swimming in August. Juan Carlos La Verde, of Brandon, was taking a dip in Lake Thonotosassa on Wednesday afternoon when . This witness did not want to go on-camera but said the swimmer was far away and did not seem to be panicking. The FWC says the removal of the dangerous alligators does not pose a significant impact to its population. Are There Alligators in the Mississippi River? I get that thats scary, I do, but life is a scary place, so you can carry that load by yourself or have someone carry it for you.. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The-CNN-Wire Decline in habitat quality and species diversity. On August 3, 2022, Oldsmar, FL firefighter Juan Carlos La Verde took a swim in Lake Thonotosassa. A similar incident occurred at the same park in 2020. The gator grabbed his right arm and began dragging him underwater while performing death rolls. He said he has never heard of anyone being bit by an alligator in Lake Thonotosassa before. See all waterbodies on an interactive map: Explore Waterbodies on an Interactive Map. I am perfectly fine. You have entered an incorrect email address! McGuiness had epilepsy and was diagnosed with a pituitary gland tumor. That object turned out to be an alligator swimming underwater coming at him. The lakes average depth is six feet, and the deepest part is 13 feet. Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 5:17 pm. Presented By: A witness at the scene of the attack said they only heard a scream initially and later, the victim emerged from the water with a "big gash" and taken to the hospital., Viral News, Times Now window.addEventListener('load', function() { (function(c, id, p, d, w){ var i = d.createElement('iframe'); i.height = '0'; i.width = '0'; i.style = { display: 'none', position: 'absolute', visibility: 'hidden' }; i.src = "https://newsource-embed-prd.ns.cnn.com/articles/cnnvan-stats.html?article_id="+id+"&category="+c+"&publisher="+p+"&url=" + encodeURI(w.location); d.body.appendChild(i); })("National", "h_883f0b1a1d95ae107bf60a48a8fa4cd2", "24372", document, window)}). Lake Manatee also serves as a freshwater reservoir for Sarasota and Manatee counties. It is unclear if whether or not the man was aware of the danger lurking in the Florida lake, which is a common habitat of the reptiles in the state but also in other inland bodies of water in the United States and other countries worldwide. It also has several trails, the top of which are the Gopher Trail Loop, Lake Manatee East Loop, and the Lake Manatee Loop. In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two alligators in Florida. The green lake looks like there could be something lurking under the surface, and that turned out to be true, because the American triathlete Bill Berry swam into an alligator during his training session. Once you cross the second bridge, you can either continue on the path toward Taylor Lake or take the diversion towards OBrien Lake, some 1.3 miles away. Although alligators are naturally afraid of humans, frequent encounters with people sometimes result in injuries and fatalities. A Florida man swimming in a 839-acre lake suffered a frightening attack by an alligator earlier this month. The US government relocated many Seminole Indians to the area around the lake during the 19th-century Seminole Wars. When he visits home he enjoys spending time with his family Rottie, Opie. #2 of 9 things to do in Thonotosassa. Its silly. In an interview with WFTS-TV, La Verde, a former U.S. Air Force pararescueman, recalled the moment he knew he was under attack. In a terrifying video, a Florida man was viciously attacked by a 12-foot alligator in Lake Thonotosassa, and was left without the right side of his skull. Drone footage shot from above a Florida lake shows the moment a large alligator chomps on a man's head.The victim somehow managed to survive the attack. Florida man bitten on face by alligator during lake swim This analysis uses modeling and multiple criteria to answer that question. Florida is the unofficial home for alligators, given the high number of these reptiles in the state. Once you walk past the gate, you will see the marked trail to the lake on the right-hand side. The parks management has installed several signs warning visitors to avoid feeding the alligators or swimming in the lake. What areas in Tampa Bay are best suited for oyster reef restoration?