The child was bitten by an alligator last week on a New Orleans beach that has been closed to the public for nearly 60 years, a hospital spokesman said.
A New Orleans EMS spokesman told CNN, ABC affiliate WGNO-TV and The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate that the child was taken to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans on Friday.
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The young man’s age and the extent of his injuries are unknown. NOEMS did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
However, a spokesman said the child’s injuries met the criteria for a trauma patient, CNN reported.
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According to reports, the child was attacked on Wednesday while he was with his family on the beach along Lake Pontchartrain The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.
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According to the City of New Orleans website, Lincoln Beach is a 15-acre site that was established in the early 1900s and designated “as a recreational area for African Americans” before closing in 1964.
“The structures and facilities at Lincoln Beach have gradually deteriorated over time due to lack of maintenance and a series of hurricane impacts, causing unsafe conditions at the site,” the city said.
“Access to Lincoln Beach is prohibited; however, there is ample evidence of unauthorized and illegal use of the beach,” the website added.
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“Before it was closed, the beach was accessible through a tunnel under the embankment,” the city added. “The tunnel is currently fenced off and filled with water and wildlife, including alligators and venomous snakes.”
According to CNN, the city reiterated Friday that it reminded residents of the dangers of the closed area, saying “Lincoln Beach is not safe at this time.”
“While the City is actively working to redevelop the location for all residents to enjoy, numerous safety improvements are required before it can be reopened to the public,” the city told WGNO-TV. “Until we know how we can safely reintroduce Lincoln Beach to New Orleanians, we need residents to stay away.”
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Source: HIS Education