Alligator Attacks Kid Swimming in Louisiana Waterway

A 9-year-old boy is recovering from injuries after he was attacked by an alligator in a Louisiana waterway.

NOLA.com reports that the young boy was swimming with his family in Lake Ponchatrain on Sunday evening when the alligator attacked.

According to the report, the family saw the alligator approaching the boy and started to scream at him, but he thought that they were joking. Sadly, they were not and that is when the alligator bit him.

Firefighters and EMS who responded credited the dad of the young boy for saving his life in the attack as the father reportedly jumped on the six-foot gator and started punching it. Had the dad not acted so quickly, the alligator could have taken the kid under the water and drowned him.

The family was swimming in a popular spot, at the mouth of Bayou St. John where it meets Lake Pontchartrain, when the alligator went on the attack. We should remind you that it is never safe to be in the water at dusk.

NOLA.com reports that the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries was called to the scene to address the alligator in the attack, but there is no word if the reptile was located.

The good news is the young boy is recovering at home from the attack, with some pretty serious cuts and punctures to his leg.

Signs were to be erected where the attack occurred to warn other guests of the threat in the Louisiana waterway.

Just in case you need a quick reminder of how dangerous alligators are, check out this video, and yes we know that it isn’t Breaking News that alligators are in the waterways of Louisiana.