Florida man survives 3 days in swamp after losing arm in gator attack

The New York Post ^ | September 7, 2022 | Olivia Land

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

A Florida man lost his arm in a grizzly alligator attack, only to spend the next three days wandering the swamp looking for help.

Eric Merda, 43, of Sarasota, was visiting the Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City on July 17 when he got lost in the woods. When he arrived back at the lake, he opted to swim across it as opposed to walking around.

“Not the smartest decision a Florida boy could make,” Merda admitted during an interview with 10 Tampa Bay that aired Monday.

Not long into his swim, he told reporters, “I look over and there’s a gator on my right-hand side.”

“She got my forearm so I grabbed her like this, she was trying to roll by she snapped her head so my arm with backwards like this completely.”

Merda said the gator dragged him underwater three times before doing the death roll and taking off with his right arm.

After swimming back to shore, Merda started walking and screaming for help.

“Bones poking out, muscles, if I try to move my fingers, you could see it twitching,” Merda said.

He struggled to put the physical pain into words.

After three days of wandering, Merda came upon a fence with a man on the other side.

“I said a gator got me arm, he said, ‘holy smokes man!’” Merda described the meeting.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The 10 Tampa Bay article is good, too, but it's Gannett, so I couldn't post it. Likewise, the Post's pictures appear to have come from the Gannett site.

[Samurai_Jack]

A GRIZZLY ALLIGATOR?!

What devils sorcery combined that DNA?!

[MtnClimber]

I hate when that happens. BTW I got bit once as a youth by a small alligator. They are incredibly powerful.

[Steely Tom]

Only a flesh wound.

[gundog]

....in a grizzly alligator attack....

Be afraid....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I wonder if alcohol was involved?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Apparently, the reported meant “grisly”, and the editor was either asleep or on drugs.

[j.havenfarm]

True, but I think successful reattachment is unlikely to be successful at this point

[Steely Tom]

Apparently, the reported meant “grisly”, and the editor was either asleep or on drugs.

Could've been both.

[John S Mosby]

Myakka State Park, FL— the largest alligators record size in the entire state. They will come up on shore and consume a stringer of caught fish-— had it happen. 12-15 ft gators, leviathans.

[rlmorel]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"...a grizzly alligator attack..."

This is the ONLY way to travel when in the swamps of Florida...

[dfwgator]

....in a grizzly alligator attack.... Be afraid....

Especially if you're from Kentucky!

[NWFree]

He could trap the biggest, the meanest alligator
And just use one hand🎵

That’s all he got left ‘cause alligator bit it
Left arm gone, clean up to the elbow
🎶

[gundog]

Or an old, grizzled alligator.

[Justa]

Always carry your Bowie or Rambo knife when swimming in FL swamps. Might lose your arm but at least you’ll get dinner.

[crz]

Ha! His name Amos Moses?

[FLT-bird]

GO GATORS!

[plain talk]

"'Gator got me arm!".

[gundog]

4.5 points isn’t too scary.