Florida Man Loses Arm in His Second Alligator Attack in a Decade

A Florida man lost his arm during an alligator attack in Venus, Florida, located 12 miles southeast of Tampa.

The victim was no ordinary civilian. In fact, this is the second alligator attack in a decade of Greg Graziani, the victim of the recent incident and also the director of Florida Gator Gardens.

The alligator veteran was subjected to the alligator bite during a routine interaction in the park's large alligators.

The Florida wildlife expert was rushed to the hospital and doctors were forced to conduct a below the elbow amputation to preserve half of his forearm.

Based on reports, the park director had his arm untwisted six times since the reptile likely engaged in a vortex-like movement, also known as the death roll.

Both alligators and crocodiles use this technique to dismember their prey.

Florida Park Alligator Attack

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed the incident occurred at 7:30 p.m. at the said park, which is a license captive wildlife facility.

As a result, the commission has launched an investigation into the incident, according to officials, as cited by the Miami Herald.

Park officials said that Graziani expressed his plans to return to work at Florida Gator Gardens and will move forward for all the amazing projects they have been doing in these past few years.

Meanwhile, the alligator that bit the Florida man will still be in the park.

Also Read: Giant Alligator Kills Man at a Private Golf Community in South Carolina

Second Alligator Attack

In a Facebook post on August 22, the Florida Gator Gardens page stated Graziani was seriously injured, highlighting that what was originally scheduled as an amputation turned into a medical marvel.

After partially amputating his left arm, doctors at the Tampa General Hospital spent 9 hours to re-attach his arm.

According to the social media post, this was made possible by creating new vessels for blood flow and placing plates to hold the bone fragments together.

In 2013, Graziani experienced his first alligator attack from a 7.5-foot female nuisance gator, which he trapped and removed from someone else's property.

The incident took place when the alligator suddenly did the death roll and trapped his arm in a rope, snapping the bones in multiple locations.

Graziani was only able to break free from the gator's jaw when his 12-yeer-old son rushed to help him.

Afterward, it took him almost 18 months for his arm to heal.

Florida Gator Gardens added that after nearly losing his arm in 2013, Graziani only came back more passionate and determined for reptiles.

Florida Alligators

There are approximately 1.3 million alligators across Florida, including in all 67 counties, according to the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program of the FWC.

In 2021, the FWC reported a total of 9 alligator bites in the Sunshine state. These attacks were preceded by 12 bites in 2020 and 10 in 2019.

While wildlife experts claim that fatal alligator attacks are rare, they do occur. This is especially the case in areas where both alligator and human population closely live.