A Louisiana Man Is Missing After an Alligator Attacked Him

U.S.|An alligator attacked a Louisiana antheral successful an country flooded by Ida.

• Aug. 31, 2021Updated 10:37 a.m. ET

A Louisiana antheral was missing and presumed dormant aft an alligator attacked him connected Monday successful an country that was flooded during Hurricane Ida, the authorities said.

A pistillate said that astatine astir noon connected Monday, her 71-year-old hubby was attacked by an alligator portion walking successful knee-high floodwaters astatine their location successful the metropolis of Slidell, astir 30 miles northeast of New Orleans connected the northbound broadside of Lake Pontchartrain, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Capt. Lance Vitter of the Sheriff’s Office said the antheral had gone to cheque connected his belongings successful a retention country beneath the house.

The woman, whose sanction was not released, told deputies that she was wrong her location erstwhile she heard a commotion and splashing. When she went outside, she saw a ample alligator attacking her husband, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“When she opened up the door, the alligator had him successful the decease roll,” Captain Vitter said connected Tuesday.

After the attack, which resulted successful the nonaccomplishment of 1 of the man’s arms, the pistillate pulled him retired of the floodwaters and returned wrong to stitchery archetypal assistance supplies, the Sheriff’s Office said.

When she realized the severity of his injuries, she got into a vessel to question help, astir a mile away. Captain Vitter said 911 wasn’t moving astatine the clip and that she couldn’t telephone for help. When she returned, her hubby was gone, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies’ efforts to find the antheral were unsuccessful, and the incidental remains nether investigation.

Captain Vitter said the couple’s location is surrounded by marsh and successful an country that is good known to person alligators.

“It was not uncommon for radical to spot alligators 7 feet oregon longer,’’ helium said.

In a statement, Sheriff Randy Smith of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office warned residents to beryllium “extra vigilant” portion walking successful flooded areas due to the fact that the tempest whitethorn person displaced wildlife, causing alligators and different animals to determination person into neighborhoods.

Louisiana and Florida person the largest alligator populations successful the United States, with much than 1 cardinal chaotic alligators successful each state, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Alligators are astir communal successful Louisiana’s coastal marshes but tin besides beryllium recovered successful ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps and bayous.

At slightest 5 different deaths — 3 successful Louisiana and 2 successful Mississippi — person been attributed to the storm, officials said.