A massive alligator bit a Texas officer’s hand while he was helping to corral it. The officer is now recovering from the attack and is in stable condition.
According to the Chron, Sgt. David Edwards was helping officers and Liberty County sheriff’s deputies remove a 10-feet-long alligator from the middle of a roadway. As Edwards helped officers place a noose around the alligator’s mouth to drag it off the road, the alligator bit his left wrist.
The attack left Edwards with broken bones and deep lacerations that required surgery and ongoing medical care. Fortunately, it was not his dominant hand, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, the alligator had to be euthanized after the incident.
Cleveland Police Chief Darrel Broussard praised Edwards’ courage and expressed gratitude that the injuries were not more severe.
“It will take time but he is expected to make a full recover. Sgt. Edwards is truly blessed and agrees ‘he was a bit too close to the gator,’ and now realizes it could have been [worse],” Broussard said.
Authorities emphasized the increased risks posed by displaced wildlife in flood-stricken areas like Cleveland, where recent flooding has prompted unusual alligator sightings. Last week, a man said an alligator chased him up a tree at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge Bird Rookery Lake.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has issued warnings about increased wildlife activity due to receding floodwaters in East and Central Texas, urging caution for residents and first responders alike.
