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A teen attacked by an 11-and-a-half foot alligator got away with his life, but lost his arm. 18-year-old Kasey Edwards was swimming with his friends in a canal near Lake Okeechobee over the weekend, when an alligator clamped down on his left arm. Edwards told an Orlando T-V station that he was pulled underwater five times before finally sticking his thumb into its eye, causing it to retreat. University of Florida Wildlife Ecology Professor, H Franklin Percival says the teen may have been swimming at night, which is never a smart idea. But rest assured, Percival says alligator attacks are by no means common. Although there have been some deaths related to alligator attacks, Percival claims it's rare for the victim to die. Following an attack, the alligator is put into the custody of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Percival recommends you visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's website for more information. He says there you can find a section on how to live with alligators in the state of Florida. The commission's website can be found at FLORIDA-CONSERVATION-dot-org. That web site again is FLORIDA-CONSERVATION-dot-org. As for the teen attacked by the gator, he was taken to a Melbourne hospital for treatment and is expected to be released this weekend.