Gator Bites Diver Retrieving Golf Balls

[americanoregon]

Gator Bites Diver Retrieving Golf Balls

Wednesday, April 26, 2006
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - A diver hired by the city to retrieve golf balls from a lake was attacked by a 9-foot alligator that bit the man's arm, authorities said.

Stephen Martinez, 43, of Coral Springs, was treated at a hospital for injuries similar to a dog bite, said Palm Beach County sheriff's Lt. Rolando Silva.

"It's serious, but certainly not life-threatening," he said.

Martinez was under murky water at The Links golf course when a group of golfers heard him yell for help, said course manager Dan Hager.

The alligator apparently bit Martinez's air tank and tried to pull him under the water. Martinez grabbed a utility knife strapped to his dive suit and tried to stab the animal. That's when it bit his arm, Hager said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was investigating.

The alligator was trapped and will have to be euthanized, commission spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.

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Information from: The Palm Beach Post, http://www.pbpost.com

 

[sea nmf]

Hmmm. Now there's a hazard most of us don't worry about . . . .

 

[superstar]

I am sure Stephen had the proper PADI golf ball diver c-card but did he have a hunting license to hunt gators with a knife.

 

[americanoregon]

And did the gator have al icense to hunt divers?

 

[Courtneyf82]

obviously not if he's getting euthanized

 

[superstar]

The gator was protecting his water hole, it was self defence against an intruder.

 

[superstar]

Capital punishment for self defence, kind of a stiff penalty isn't it.

 

[PhotoTJ]

They don't need to whack the gator! He was just doing what gators do.

 

[Guba]

Gee. Now you know why more golfers don't go in after those misdirected balls.

Take the penalty and drop any day.

 

[landlocked]

Also being discussed here.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=139499