Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
07-23-2004, 08:59 PM
#1
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Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 23) - A professional landscaper died Friday after being mauled by a 12-foot alligator that dragged her into a pond and nearly tore off one of her arms.
Janie Melsek, 54, was attacked Wednesday by the alligator as she worked on landscaping behind a home on Sanibel Island, just off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico. After the animal pulled her into the water, a neighbor and police officers engaged in a fierce "tug-of-war" to pull her from the reptile's jaws.
Melsek died in surgery at Lee Memorial Hospital to treat an infection caused by the reptile's vicious bites. Doctors said her body simply shut down in response to the infection.
"My mom showed more courage than fear and I could not be more proud of her," said Melsek's daughter, Joy Williams, 29. "She's just absolutely amazed me and our whole community with the fight she put up."
Police killed the 457-pound alligator, which required six men to lift it to shore.
She was the 14th person known to have been fatally attacked by a Florida alligator since record keeping began.
Florida's alligator population had once dwindled to the point that the reptile was placed on the federal list of endangered species.
They have since rebounded to perhaps a million or more across the entire state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They can now be killed during seasonal hunts conducted by the commission.
07/23/04 20:02 EDT
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press
Janie Melsek, 54, was attacked Wednesday by the alligator as she worked on landscaping behind a home on Sanibel Island, just off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico. After the animal pulled her into the water, a neighbor and police officers engaged in a fierce "tug-of-war" to pull her from the reptile's jaws.
Melsek died in surgery at Lee Memorial Hospital to treat an infection caused by the reptile's vicious bites. Doctors said her body simply shut down in response to the infection.
"My mom showed more courage than fear and I could not be more proud of her," said Melsek's daughter, Joy Williams, 29. "She's just absolutely amazed me and our whole community with the fight she put up."
Police killed the 457-pound alligator, which required six men to lift it to shore.
She was the 14th person known to have been fatally attacked by a Florida alligator since record keeping began.
Florida's alligator population had once dwindled to the point that the reptile was placed on the federal list of endangered species.
They have since rebounded to perhaps a million or more across the entire state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They can now be killed during seasonal hunts conducted by the commission.
07/23/04 20:02 EDT
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press
07-23-2004, 09:29 PM
#3
Re: Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
Originally Posted by CAP071
Florida's alligator population had once dwindled to the point that the reptile was placed on the federal list of endangered species.
They have since rebounded to perhaps a million or more across the entire state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They can now be killed during seasonal hunts conducted by the commission.
They have since rebounded to perhaps a million or more across the entire state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They can now be killed during seasonal hunts conducted by the commission.
That sucks. Alligator steaks are good though.
My cousin lives in west palm beach on a golf course. There is a big alligator in the pond behind thier house, it swims between the ponds through the drainage system or some pipe network. All the locals know about it, hopefully no visitors find out the hard way. I sure as **** didnt go in the backyard by the water.
07-24-2004, 06:21 AM
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Re: Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
God Bless
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07-24-2004, 06:37 AM
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Re: Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
Thats what happens when we let the enviromental nuts take over. when we settled land in the past the idea was to eliminate dangerous animals from our communities to protect our families. Now these fools want to place them in our back yards. Absolute crxx!!!! Start killing the damm things down there!!!!!!!!
07-24-2004, 07:17 AM
#7
Re: Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
That suxs she probably never saw it coming 
Here is a pick from the Tickfaw 200 poker run . We lassoed this one at the Prop Stop and played with it most of the day. I think it was use to people . He was not afraid of us until we put the dock line on him
Here is a pick from the Tickfaw 200 poker run . We lassoed this one at the Prop Stop and played with it most of the day. I think it was use to people . He was not afraid of us until we put the dock line on him
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The Only Time You Have To Much Ammo Is When Your Swimming Or On Fire.
07-24-2004, 10:44 AM
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Re: Florida Woman Dies After Being Mauled by Alligator
Originally Posted by Strip Poker 388
Here is a pick from the Tickfaw 200 poker run . We lassoed this one at the Prop Stop and played with it most of the day. I think it was use to people . He was not afraid of us until we put the dock line on him
Debbie's daddy is an old gator poacher from way back. He tricked me into going gator hunting with him one time. I was never so scared in my life.
