FL Press:4-foot iguana killed after biting off Hollywood teen's finger

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Posted by Desiree on January 16, 2002 at 11:02:44:

In Reply to: FL Press:Firefighters find finger after iguana bites it off posted by Desiree on January 15, 2002 at 20:21:59:

4-foot iguana killed after biting off Hollywood boy's fingertip
By Diana Marrero
Sun-Sentinel

January 15, 2002

Police cornered and killed a 4-foot long iguana Tuesday after it bit off the tip of a Hollywood boy�s finger.

Christopher Charley, 14, and the iguana then were rushed to Joe DiMaggio Children�s Hospital in hopes that doctors could reattach the boy�s fingertip after removing it from the iguana�s stomach. The probe of the iguana proved unsuccessful, but a cousin later retrieved the fingertip from the back yard of Christopher�s home in the 600 block of Mayo Street.

Doctors said they were unable to reattach the tip of Christopher�s right index fingertip, but he should recuperate just fine.

Christopher, an aspiring artist, is worried he might not be able to draw again, said his mother, Michelle Barnes.

But he�s more upset that the police had to kill the newest addition to his iguana collection. He has six others, she said.

�He�s doing fine,� she said. �He�s still sorry they had to kill him.�

By 7 p.m., Christopher was back home, arm in a sling, checking on his remaining iguanas.

The McArthur High School freshman had just gotten home from school and was checking on his newest pet, when it bit two of his fingers shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, said his father, Noye Charley.

He bought it from a child in the neighborhood Monday for $20, Noye Charley said.

One of Christopher�s sisters ran to the house yelling after the iguana attacked.

His father ran out to see Christopher struggling with the iguana. The family called the police, who sent at least three officers to the scene, said Lt. Vincent Affanato, of the Hollywood Police Department.

When Christopher tugged to get his fingers loose, the tip of his index finger was severed.

Police tried to subdue the iguana with a stun gun before shooting the creature three times, killing it, Affanato said.

�We attempted repeatedly to use less lethal force to neutralize the iguana,� he said, �but we had to resort to shooting it.�

Dr. Stephen Mathew, an emergency room doctor at the hospital, said Christopher should be able to have normal use of his hand � including the ability to draw � when he recovers.

�He should come out of this pretty well,� Mathew said.

Mathew said though it�s unusual for an iguana to bite off a child�s finger, the type of injury is quite common. Doctors at the hospital usually see several children a week with missing fingertips because their fingers have gotten caught by a car or house door, he said.

Dr. Yoav Barnavon, a plastic surgeon called in to help reshape Christopher�s finger, said his middle finger would likely substitute for the index finger, and he won�t need a prosthetic.

�These injuries heal so beautifully, most patients don�t need them,� he said.

It took about half an hour to stitch up the fingertip, and Christopher was sent home soon after the surgery.

Christopher, the oldest of seven children, loves iguanas and won�t let this experience sour his affection for the green lizards, his mother said.

The common iguana can grow to be 3 to 6 feet long and is a strict vegetarian.

Diana Marrero can be reached at dmarrero@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4523.
Copyright � 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

FL Press:4-foot iguana killed after biting off Hollywood teen's finger

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: 4-foot iguana killed after biting off Hollywood boy's fingertip : By Diana Marrero : Sun-Sentinel : January 15, 2002 : Police cornered and killed a 4-foot long iguana Tuesday after it bit off the tip of a Hollywood boy�s finger. : Christopher Charley, 14, and the iguana then were rushed to Joe DiMaggio Children�s Hospital in hopes that doctors could reattach the boy�s fingertip after removing it from the iguana�s stomach. The probe of the iguana proved unsuccessful, but a cousin later retrieved the fingertip from the back yard of Christopher�s home in the 600 block of Mayo Street. : Doctors said they were unable to reattach the tip of Christopher�s right index fingertip, but he should recuperate just fine. : Christopher, an aspiring artist, is worried he might not be able to draw again, said his mother, Michelle Barnes. : But he�s more upset that the police had to kill the newest addition to his iguana collection. He has six others, she said. : �He�s doing fine,� she said. �He�s still sorry they had to kill him.� : By 7 p.m., Christopher was back home, arm in a sling, checking on his remaining iguanas. : The McArthur High School freshman had just gotten home from school and was checking on his newest pet, when it bit two of his fingers shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, said his father, Noye Charley. : He bought it from a child in the neighborhood Monday for $20, Noye Charley said. : One of Christopher�s sisters ran to the house yelling after the iguana attacked. : His father ran out to see Christopher struggling with the iguana. The family called the police, who sent at least three officers to the scene, said Lt. Vincent Affanato, of the Hollywood Police Department. : When Christopher tugged to get his fingers loose, the tip of his index finger was severed. : Police tried to subdue the iguana with a stun gun before shooting the creature three times, killing it, Affanato said. : �We attempted repeatedly to use less lethal force to neutralize the iguana,� he said, �but we had to resort to shooting it.� : Dr. Stephen Mathew, an emergency room doctor at the hospital, said Christopher should be able to have normal use of his hand � including the ability to draw � when he recovers. : �He should come out of this pretty well,� Mathew said. : Mathew said though it�s unusual for an iguana to bite off a child�s finger, the type of injury is quite common. Doctors at the hospital usually see several children a week with missing fingertips because their fingers have gotten caught by a car or house door, he said. : Dr. Yoav Barnavon, a plastic surgeon called in to help reshape Christopher�s finger, said his middle finger would likely substitute for the index finger, and he won�t need a prosthetic. : �These injuries heal so beautifully, most patients don�t need them,� he said. : It took about half an hour to stitch up the fingertip, and Christopher was sent home soon after the surgery. : Christopher, the oldest of seven children, loves iguanas and won�t let this experience sour his affection for the green lizards, his mother said. : The common iguana can grow to be 3 to 6 feet long and is a strict vegetarian. : Diana Marrero can be reached at dmarrero@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4523. : Copyright � 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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