A 28-year-old man, Tommy Woodward, who was warned against swimming in a crocodile infested mariner was killed moments after he jumped into the mariner on Friday, July 3, 2015.
Woodward was attacked by the crocodiles in Texas at a private mariner located on the Sabine River. He had mocked the creatures moments before he jumped in for a ‘swim.’
Police reports that Woodward suffered a severe trauma to the limb during the attack. He was found after two hours by Orange County sheriff deputies and a Texas game warden.
Woodward was reportedly swimming with a woman but she was not hurt because he screamed at her to get out of the water when the crocodiles first attacked.
According police Capt. Robert Enmon, the crocodile was estimated to be about 11 feet long. He said the reptile was probably startled and trying to protect it’s habitat.
“You’ve got to remember that alligators are a predatory species, they are territorial, and they will take advantage of an opportunity.” he said.
According to Metro UK, Rodney Price, an Orange County official asserted that the victim had ignored warning signs posted by the mariner before making his plunge.
He said: “He removed his shirt, removed his billfold…someone shouted a warning and he said “blank the alligators” and jumped into the water and almost immediately yelled for help.’
According to a marina employee, Michelle Wright said that she had personally warned Woodward against making the plunge before she spotted his body floating face down in the water.
“I saw his body floating face down,” she said. “And then he’s out there for a couple of seconds and then he’s dragged back down. And then he come back up still face down and then he gets pulled down again. And then he just disappears.”
Woodward who was a shipyard worker had just recently moved to the St. Louis area with his twin brother.
The owner of the Marina, Allen Burkhart added: “He went under one time, then he hollered at her to get out of the water. Then he pulled him down the second time and that was it. I’ve been here all my life and this is the first time something like this has happened. … I’m still in shock.”
Authorities have not made efforts to capture the animal but private efforts may be launched to capture it.
