DP-Swimming with Gators

[nanuq]

Pickled humans give the gators gas...

Tallahassee man jumps out of Wakulla Springs tour boat 'to swim with gators'

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100623/BREAKINGNEWS/100623010/Tallahassee-man-jumps-out-of-Wakulla-Springs-tour-boat--to-swim-with-gators
A 37-year-old Tallahassee man was charged with disorderly conduct at Wakulla Springs State Park after jumping out of a tour boat to “swim with the alligators” on Saturday, June 19 at 5:06 p.m., according to Wakulla County Sheriff David Harvey.

Eric Ross told Deputy Nick Boutwell that he intentionally jumped off the tour boat because he observed an alligator in the water and wanted to fulfill a lifelong fear/fantasy of swimming with a gator. He compared the thrill to “sky diving” as he was being questioned by the deputy.

Park Ranger James Hines responded to the scene with another boat and discovered that Ross had swum to the river bank and was walking toward the public swimming area. The park ranger found Ross holding a stick in a wooded area before taking him to meet with law enforcement officials.

Ross told law enforcement officials that he had consumed alcoholic beverages and that could have contributed “somewhat” to his actions.

Wakulla Springs boat captain Kenneth Clineman told Sgt. Ronald Mitchell that that Ross jumped from the tour boat and swam toward an alligator on the river bank. Ross refused to come back to the boat and the alligator began swimming toward him. Clineman maneuvered the tour boat between the gator and swimmer and requested assistance.

After receiving assistance from Hines, Clineman assured the tour guests that the event was highly unusual and continued his tour. Ross was taken to the Wakulla County Jail without incident and released later the same evening.