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A man whose armed was savaged off by an alligator has shared his epic story of survival.
Eric Merda was taking a trip to Lake Manatee Fish Camp in Myakka City, Florida, in July, when he came face-to-face with the beast that tore off his limb while swimming across a lake.
Having now recovered from the physical injury and trauma, he has told his inspirational story of survival.
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He told CBS Miami: “I looked over and there's a gator on my right-hand side, so I went to swim, and she got my forearm, so I grabbed her like this, she was trying to roll, but she snapped her head, so my arm went backwards… completely”.
He bravely fought for his life and says that the crocodile dragged him under three times.
"She's already got my arm, so when we came up the third time, she finally did a death roll and took off with my arm," he said.
Merda incredibly managed to swim to safety with just one arm but found himself confused of his whereabouts.
After walking around in circles, he says he “started following the sun and power lines, stuff like that, things I could see."
After three brutal and excruciating days lost, he came across a fence and saw a man in his garden.
"I said: 'hey man I need some help' and he says, 'what are you doing' and I said, 'a gator got my arm'. He says, 'holy smokes man."
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Merda was lucky to have survived such an attack. Now he’s adjusting to life with only one arm, he has advice for fellow adrenaline seekers that may get close to these deadly animals.
"Do not feed the gators alright and you guys know who you are, throwing rocks at them and stuff, I've seen it on the job sites, leave them gators alone," he said.
Deathly attacks from crocodiles and alligators in the region are not uncommon and many who do not pay attention to local signage have been permanently injured.
Last month in Mexico a man was savagely killed by a crocodile as he swam in a lagoon popularised for watching turtles swim.
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