ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Residents in a Florida seaside city are on alert following a sequence of bizarre assaults.
The latest sufferer, Thomas Cathey, informed NBC affiliate WTLV he was strolling to work at a store on sixth Road in Atlantic Seashore Wednesday morning when he observed he was being adopted.
Solely, it wasn’t an individual — it was a coyote.
“Got here out of the bushes, form of circled me,” Cathey stated. “I did not pay any consideration to it at first, then it attacked me from behind.”
Cathey confirmed reporters the bloodied bites and bruises alongside his leg and elbow as he recalled wrestling with the animal. The coyote took him to the bottom, however Cathey continued preventing.
The animal lastly backed off after Cathey stated he managed to offer it ” kick in his ribs.”
However he isn’t the one one who’s come away with a harrowing story. Cathey is the third sufferer in two days across the similar space close to the marshes off Begonia Road.
One other particular person and their canine had been attacked the identical morning as Cathey. Officers stated the canine fended off the coyote however was bitten within the course of. Police anticipate the canine to outlive. The primary sufferer who was bitten Tuesday can also be anticipated to be OK.
The reviews have led the Metropolis of Atlantic Seashore to challenge a coyote advisory, asking individuals to not go away meals out, maintain pets inside once they’re not being watched and report any sightings to 911.
“Typically, these animals are going to run away as quickly as they see or hear one thing scary to them,” stated Police Chief Victor Gualillo. “We suggest you make your self look massive, make a lot of noise to scare the animal away first.”
As of Wednesday, authorities had been nonetheless attempting to find out whether or not one coyote was concerned in all the incidents or if it was totally different ones. Officers haven’t but pointed to rabies, however Mayor Mike Borno stated he is involved by the “indisputable fact that it is aggressive.”
Cathey is out of the hospital however has to return for a number of rabies therapies simply to be on the protected aspect. Whereas he managed to flee with just a few chunk marks, Cathey worries concerning the security of different, youthful residents.
“It isn’t protected. There’s a variety of kids round right here,” Cathey stated. “A toddler would not have survived that. He fought tougher than a person has ever fought me earlier than.”
Crews have set a entice close to the place the incidents had been reported and ask that residents present photos of any sightings to assist them determine the animal or animals answerable for the assaults.
