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A child was bitten by an alligator on a New Orleans beach that has been officially closed to the public since 1964, according to a hospital spokesperson who spoke to CNN.
The boy, whose age and condition were not disclosed, was transported Friday to Children’s Hospital of New Orleans after the incident in Lincoln Beachaccording to the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services source.
The spokesman said the boy’s injuries met the criteria for a trauma patient.
Lincoln Beach is a roughly 15-acre site bounded by Lake Pontchartrain to the north, east and west, according to the City of New Orleans website.
The beach was established in the early 20th century and was once a popular recreational spot for area blackshowever, it closed in 1964.
There is “ample evidence of impermissible and illegal use of the beach,” according to the city.
“Before it was closed, the beach was accessible through a tunnel under the levee. The tunnel is currently fenced off and teeming with water and wildlife, including alligators and venomous snakes,” the website states.
The city of New Orleans issued a statement Friday reminding people the dangers of the closed area, stating that “Lincoln Beach is not safe at this time.”
City officials said that while they are “actively working to redevelop the site for all residents to enjoy,” they urge residents to “stay away” from the beach until it is officially reopened to the public.
“A number of security enhancements are required” before the beach can receive visitors, the statement read.
In early July, A 69-year-old woman died after being attacked by an alligator while walking her dog near a lagoon in South Carolina.
After the attack, rescue agents found the unconscious woman at the edge of the lagoon, located near a golf course on Hilton Head Island. Officials tried to revive the victim but the alligator returned and interrupted its work.
Finally, police and firefighters recovered the lifeless body of the womana resident of the area, and stored it for an autopsy by Beaufort County authorities.
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