EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FL – On Sunday, at around 4:43 p.m., rangers of the National Park Service (NPS) were summoned to the Flamingo Marina in Everglades National Park following a reported crocodile attack. A 68-year-old man, whose sailboat had capsized in the marina basin, was bitten by a crocodile as he attempted to swim to the shore while dragging his sinking boat.
According to the details shared by NPS in a statement on Monday, the man was observed going underwater during his swim. NPS rangers promptly responded to the situation, providing the victim with immediate care for a leg laceration.
Miami Dade Fire and Rescue transported the man, who has not been named, to a hospital, where he is reportedly in stable condition. At present, park rangers and biologists are investigating the incident and monitoring the suspected crocodile.
In their ongoing evaluation of the situation, NPS is coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, guided by the American Crocodile-Human Interaction Response Plan.
The American crocodile, a federally threatened species that closely resembles the American alligator, is native to the area. Park officials have urged visitors to remain alert and cautious, especially around wildlife. They reiterated that swimming or wading is disallowed in all freshwater lakes, boat basins, marked channels, ponds, and canals located within the Everglades National Park.