Quote:MONCKS CORNER, SC (WIS) - An alligator bit a 59-year-old man's arm off Monday at a Lake Moultrie recreation area.

Officials say Bill Hedden was in critical condition at the Medical University of South Carolina. Bill Salisbury of the Berkeley County Rescue Squad says Hedden's arm was retrieved from the belly of the alligator after wildlife officers shot it and was on ice while doctors evaluated whether it could be reattached.

Later, doctors decided they couldn't reattach it.

Wildlife officials said it was one of the worst gator attacks in the state, but no one saw it except the victim.

Hedden stumbled into a party of picnickers with his arm missing and blood gushing from his wound. Five nurses were among those at the gathering and put ice on his wound and kept him awake until paramedics could arrive.

Department of Natural Resources officers showed up later and shot the animal, which was nearly 12-feet long and weighed about 550 pounds.

this wasn't in the story, but someone else provided this pic of the gator with the arm in its mouth...

WARNING: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH