Fla. Teen Wins Fight With Gator, Loses Arm

A Florida teen who was attacked by an 11 1/2-foot alligator lost his arm, but managed to escape with his life after poking the animal in the eye.

A sheriff's office report says Kasey Edwards, 18, was hanging out with friends at a canal in Florida on Sunday when he decided to go swimming.

The Stuart News newspaper reported that half way through the swim, an alligator clamped down on his left arm. Edwards says he fought back by grabbing onto a buoy line and not letting go. He then poked the animal in the eye to get free.

As Edwards began to swim away, he noticed that his left arm was missing. Friends pulled him to safety and he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Hunters from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission captured and destroyed the alligator, the newspaper reported.