Alligator bites 6-year-old boy in Livingston Parish

LIVINGSTON PARISH, La. (WAFB) - Tiffany Cressione and her family were out enjoying a boat ride on Lake Maurepas Sunday when they stopped to swim at the sandbar, right outside of the Tickfaw River. Shortly after getting in the water, Tiffany heard a sound no parent wants to hear.

“We were out there, my son all of a sudden screamed something bit me, my husband picked him up out of the water not knowing what it was. And he said ‘get me in the boat’, I looked over my husband’s shoulder and could see a gator behind him. We live here so we religiously look all around but obviously there was one out there that we didn’t see,” said Tiffany.

Once Tiffany and her husband realized what happened, the family sprang into action.

“Everybody jumped in their spots to do what they were supposed to do. My 16-year-old took pictures and dropped a pin so we could file the reports, we had the first-aid supplies on the boat to make sure that we were able to take care of his foot,” Tiffany explained.

Thankfully, 6-year-old Gavin is okay. His mom said he was taken to the hospital to get patched up and didn’t even shed a tear.

“His 9-year-old sister was bawling in the boat, and he was calming her down, ‘I’m gonna be fine Livy, it’s okay’,” Tiffany added.

Officials with the Livingston Parish Fire District 2 issued a warning to folks on Facebook to stop feeding the gators. It says too many folks are feeding them, which is causing them to feel more comfortable approaching boats and swimmers.

“They put that out because it’s a fact, people are feeding them illegally. The other thing is there’s at least 50% less game than there were 100 years ago. Gators are struggling with all the people fishing and you know, a big part of their diet is disappearing so...that’s the big issue,” said Jim Nesci, alligator and reptile specialist.

Gavin is already back to racing his monster trucks around his home.

The family says they’ll double-check their surroundings next time they get in the water.

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