Gator made the ultimate sacrifice to swim in the fountain of youth

PHOTO COURTESY CORKY BERTHOLF
Out with a bang — DeLeon Springs Mermaid Corky Bertholf snapped this photo of an 8-foot alligator in the back of a pickup truck. The gator had to be destroyed after he was removed from the swimming area of DeLeon Springs.

By Mary Smithwick and Jen Horton
BEACON COLUMNIST AND STAFF WRITERS

posted Jun 14, 2009 - 5:58:57pm

It didn't end well for a gator who decided to take a swim in the DeLeon Springs State Park pool.

DeLeon Springs Mermaid Corky Bertholf reported an 8-foot alligator was dragged out of the swimming area, and killed on Memorial Day.

"They used a bang-stick on it," she said. "They had to."

While Bertholf did not see the gator meet his demise, she did see it being removed from the pool.

"I saw them draw him out."

The Mermaids are a subgroup of the Friends of DeLeon Springs, and they meet, year-round, for morning swims at the park.

They had just gathered for an early-morning swim, well before the large Memorial Day weekend crowds arrived.

"It was between 8 and 8:30 a.m.," Bertholf said. "It was before anybody was in the pool."

Bertholf said in the morning the water is calm and clear as can be. Park rangers are able to check the water for any hazards, such as 8-foot alligators, before people get in the water.

"That's only the second time a gator has been in the pool in the history — well, since the park took it over," Bertholf said. "The other one was a baby."

For more information about DeLeon Springs State Park, visit www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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