Central Florida man bitten by gator he thought was dead

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 22-year-old man was bitten on the hand by an alligator after mistaking it for dead, the Lake County Fire Department said.

The incident happened Saturday off Apopka Springs Boulevard near the shore of Lake Apopka in Montverde.

Bryan Rohm, 41, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment, officials said.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said Rohm and his son were on a boat and had a permit to hunt alligators. They shot an alligator twice with a specialized firearm known as a "bang stick" and thought it was dead.

The alligator bit Rohm as he tried to get the alligator in the boat. Officials said Rohm suffered a fractured hand.

The alligator then jumped back into the water.