Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Alligator theme park handler shows off injuries after witnesses pulled her from enclosure after attack

Keeper suffered multiple fractures but says animal like a firstborn son

Gino Spocchia
Thursday 19 August 2021 18:36 BST
Comments
A witness jumps into an alligator tank to help a handler
A witness jumps into an alligator tank to help a handler (Fox13)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An alligator handler at a Utah theme park who was pulled from the reptile’s enclosure after it attacked, has shown-off her injuries following the incident.

Lindsay Bull, who works at the West Valley City reptile and bird centre in Utah, suffered a damaged tendon and multiple fractures during the alligator attack on Saturday, in which she was pulled into the animal’s enclosure.

She told TMZ following her discharge from hospital on Tuesday that she has spoken with the members of the public who witnessed the animal, named Darth Gator, grab her hand and toss about in the water. Paying visitors watched on in horror.

Ms Bull instructed two men to help her gain control over the alligator, forcing it to free her hand. It also avoided the alligator biting her hand off, or drowning her.

Pictures shared with TMZ show the wound on her hand before it was covered with a cast on Saturday. Ms Bull is expected to wear it until she is recovered from her injuries, which include a broken wrist and thumb.

She added that she will soon be reunited with Darth Gator, who she said was her first born son and had no hard felling against.

Donnie Wiseman, aged 48, was seen in video assisting Ms Bull after he jumped on top of the alligator’s back on Saturday.

He told the Gephardt Daily: “I'm just like, "What do I do? What do I need to do. And I got on him, just like in all the movies and documentaries I've seen”.

“I’m so glad I was there to help that girl, because she was in trouble,” added Mr Wiseman. “But she’s the real hero, she was so well trained on what to do, and so professional”.

The owners of the animal park said in a statement that Mr Wiseman and another man who rushed to help, Todd Christopher, were responsible for saving Ms Bull.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in