July 31, 2008 Boy loses arm to alligator; doctors hope to reattach it Play video

(NECN/ABC) - Police in Slidell, Louisiana say an alligator bit off the arm of an 11-year-old boy. The young boy was found floating in a lake after deputies received 911 calls.

Relatives tell The Times-Picayune he poked the alligator in the eye and freed himself.

He was airlifted to the hospital and officials say he is now fighting for his life.

Meanwhile, searchers scoured the lake for hours until they found the alligator. When they finally did find him, they cut him open to retrieve the boy's arm.

Doctors now hope they can reattach the limb.