A child was hospitalized after being attacked by a large alligator while swimming in a lake at the Weeki Wachee Preserve in Hernando County, Florida, on Monday. The alligator was estimated to be between nine and 12 feet long.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, suffered puncture wounds to an arm and a leg. Officials described the injuries as non-life-threatening. The child was transported to Bayonet Point Hospital and is expected to recover.
Several other children who were with the victim were on a sandbar following the incident and were rescued by the Hernando County Fire Rescue service. A licensed Florida wildlife trapper was called to the scene, and traps have been set to capture the alligator.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office has urged the public to exercise extreme caution around Florida waterways and to avoid swimming in prohibited areas.