HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — An alligator wrestler was recovering Monday from one of several surgeries he’ll need to repair extensive damage to his arm inflicted by a 1,000-pound alligator.
The 13-foot gator, Lunge, chomped on the arm of Will Nace, 22, during a demonstration Saturday at Native Village, a gator park and wildlife sanctuary.
Friends and co-workers said Nace was performing a “lunge alligator” demonstration for about 20 people at a private party. The act consists of having the bull alligator open its mouth wide, then having Nace tap the alligator on the nose.
It appears Lunge lunged too far, said the park’s co-owner, Ian Tyson.
Tyson and park volunteers said the alligator grabbed Nace’s arm and dragged him into a pond, where the two spun around in an alligator behavior known as the “death roll.” Nace remained submerged throughout most of the struggle. Trainer Rob Art trainer jumped into the gated pit and freed Nace’s arm by repeatedly tapping the animal on the head and ears, Tyson said.
Nace broke his right arm and had bites and punctures across his arm and hand.
