update on devin funck the 12 year old slidell, louisiana boy, whose left arm was bitten off by a 10 feet 8 inches long [3.25m] and weighing an estimated 500 lb [227 kg] alligator dubbed "big joe" or "old joe," (espn and wdsu are reporting different names) while swimming with two friends at crystal lake near the kingspoint subdivision, slidell on wednesday, 30 july 2008.
espn:As Devin and his companions splashed and frolicked in Crystal Lake on Wednesday afternoon, they spotted the imposing creature swimming toward them. They darted toward shore, but the alligator overtook Devin and pulled him under.
there will be a 'living legend car show' fund raiser for devin starting at 11:00 am on saturday, 06 september 2008 at the northshore harbor center, 100 harbor center boulevard, in slidell.
Big Joe bit Devin's left arm off, all the way to the shoulder. The boy managed to get free, but he was critically hurt.
Devin's rescue by authorities in St. Tammany Parish was to assume epic proportions. About 3 1/2 hours later, he was in surgery at Ochsner Medical Center, with surgeons working to reattached the severed arm, recovered from the belly of the beast by daring law enforcement officers. ~ read more
