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July 24, 2006

Here in the Sunshine State, You Can Be Mindin' Your Own Business One Minute

...and the next? You're gator bait.

A 16-year-old Deland boy said he was bitten by an alligator while dangling his feet in the St. John's River.

Cory Workman told authorities he was skipping rocks while waiting for friends early Sunday.

"Alligators are ambush predators," said Kat Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Throwing rocks and sticks sounds like fish to them."
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The alligator chomped down on Workman's left ankle and dragged the teen into the water. Workman punched the animal to no avail, and then remembered a technique he saw on a wildlife television program.

Workman shoved his thumb into one of the alligator's eye sockets and the gator released its grip.


UPDATE: Seems they've nabbed a toothy devil and will be checking his smile to see if he's the culprit.

Posted by tree hugging sister at July 24, 2006 07:46 AM

Comments

"I told them if they caught it, I want to buy it." he said. "It tried to eat me, so I'm going to eat it."

We need more kids like this.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at July 24, 2006 08:08 AM

I knew there was a reason I needed to watch all those wildlife shows!

Posted by: Mike Rentner at July 24, 2006 09:16 AM

In spite of what *some people* would have you believe, television is not all bad!

Posted by: Susanna at July 24, 2006 09:16 AM

THS, if that 'gator had attacked her, would have used both thumbs. This means Workman is more evil than she.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at July 24, 2006 09:30 AM

Hard to believe luggage can be so dangerous......

Posted by: Crusader at July 24, 2006 10:28 AM

Pre-belt and luggage, those things have teeth.

I don't feel so bad about letting my kids watch so much tv now.

Posted by: Carola at July 24, 2006 11:31 AM