A boater was airlifted to the hospital after apparently being bitten by a crocodile in Everglades National Park.
According to the National Park Service, a 68-year-old man capsized his sailboat in the Flamingo Marina basin shortly before 5 p.m. on Sunday.
While attempting to swim to shore with his boat, he was seen going underwater.
A report was filed, and park rangers in the region treated him for a laceration on his leg.
The individual was then evacuated to the Ryder Trauma Center, where his condition was classified as stable.
“Rangers and park biologists are continuing to investigate the incident and monitor the suspected crocodile, which is easily identifiable,” a National Park Service statement read.
The American crocodile, which closely resembles the American alligator, is a nationally threatened species.
“The National Park Service is coordinating closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to evaluate the situation and follow the American Crocodile-Human Interaction Response Plan,” the agency said in a statement.
Visitors to the park are encouraged to be attentive and cautious, especially around wildlife. Swimming and wading are prohibited in all canals, ponds, freshwater lakes, defined channels, and boat basins inside Everglades National Park.
