Victim thanks rescuers
Man acknowledges those who rushed to his aid
By Ron Menchaca
The Post and Courier
Jo Losa Masauding of the Bicol Association of Charleston presents Bill Hedden with a T-shirt marking the association's annual celebration on Lake Moultrie on Saturday. At last year's celebration, Masauding and others rushed to Hedden's aid after an alligator tore off his arm while he was swimming.
Previous stories
Man's arm salvaged from alligator's belly; Nurses' quick work helps save man attacked in Lake Moultrie, published 09/17/07 (this has links to the gallery)
Man tried to steer clear of gators; Brother says attack was 'ironic' and that the victim is a strong survivor, published 09/18/07
MONCKS CORNER—Bill Hedden stared down at his plate of ribs and rice, glancing up only for the succession of well-wishers walking up to shake his hand.
The guest of honor at the Bicol Association of Charleston's annual celebration was noticeably uncomfortable with the attention and kept his face shielded with the brim of his camouflage baseball cap.
One year ago, Hedden made headlines around the world after an alligator tore off his arm as he swam in the shallows of Lake Moultrie at the Short Stay Naval Recreational Park.
The association, an organization of Filipino-Americans who hails from the Bicol Region of the Philippines, returned to the site for this year's celebration.
Doctors said Hedden might have bled to death if not for the quick action of a group of nurses and others who happened to be picnicking at the park on Sept. 16, 2007, as part of last year's celebration.
Wildlife officers later shot and killed the 12-foot-long, 550-pound alligator and recovered Hedden's arm from the reptile's stomach. But surgeons were unable to reattach the limb because of the violence with which the gator ripped it from Hedden's shoulder joint.
Hedden, 60, has never spoken publicly about his ordeal, saying he wants to maintain his privacy and keep the attention on the people who helped him that day and since.
He said he particularly shied away from publicity because he felt the media sensationalized his story.
Though he seemed overwhelmed by the attention heaped on him Saturday, Hedden said he came because he wanted to acknowledge those who rushed to his aid.
"I was very lucky," he said. "God was looking over me that day."
His wife, Linda Hedden, said the family's life has mostly returned to normal.
"We're taking everything in stride. We are doing good," she said. "We just wanted to come up here and say thank you."
Hedden, a retired U.S. Navy master chief, has returned to his full-time job as a weld inspector at Jacobs Engineering in Goose Creek, said his son, Brian Hedden.
Brian Hedden said his father is not the complaining type and has adapted well to having only one arm.
"He mows the lawn and fixes the car. He's doing just what he did before," Brian Hedden said.
Sally Ani, a registered nurse, was one of the women who rushed to plug the flow of blood spurting from Hedden's shoulder last year.
Seeing Hedden on Saturday gave her chills because she feared for his life that Sunday in 2007.
"I got scared. I thought someone was chasing him with a knife or a gun," she said.
Jo Losa Masauding, another nurse who helped Hedden, said his positive attitude about the experience and the loss of his arm impresses her most.
"I remember him saying, 'Better to change my lifestyle than to have no lifestyle at all.' I'm just so glad he made it," she said.
Reach Ron Menchaca at rmenchaca@postandcourier.com or 937-5724.
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Comments
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
What a wonderful person to want to let the sun shine on those who helped him and not himself.Most would have taken pity on themselves and used it as an excuse.It is very conforting to read something good about people for a change,and how these wonderful nurses came to his aid and all the ones that rushed to his aid and helped.I hope you continue to recover Mr. Hedden,you seem like the breed that has long passed us by.Good luck to you and your family,and it is so good to know that there are a people still around that actually cares about another human's life
September 21, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
I wonder why bill chose to ignore the sign about alligators in the area don't swim?
September 21, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better (anonymous) says...
ColdBeer, I saw the same thing in the news but that aspect of it hasn't been very widely reported. It sucks that he was attacked, but he was putting himself in harm's way and not some innocent victim as the media has led us to believe. To not fully report what really happened- how he was partly to blame- is a disservice to the public and only increases fear and misperceptions of alligators. Yes, they should be avoided and left alone- which is exactly what he wasn't doing.
September 21, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeffmiller (anonymous) says...
I wish God was looking over me as well. May I too could then be lucky enough to have my arm bitten off.
September 21, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TL (anonymous) says...
I was told by mutual friends of the Trident nurses that this guy was "noodling for catfish". I'm not alleging it, but it is consistent with this shallow water snorkeling in murky water that confuses all of us. If true, it's a lapse in judgment, but I would never stand for someone saying "he deserved it".
Regardless, I wish him the best.
September 21, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Someone was looking out for him. Having those nurses there was very fortunate.
September 21, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
jeffmiller~you sound stupid.Your statement makes no sence.Not to me anyway.
September 21, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Bill & Linda are wonderful people. Was it a lapse in judgment for him to be noodling in that area? Perhaps. What's done is done.
However the focus should be on the ladies who thought only of saving the life of a complete stranger. Those women didn't hesitate to help Bill and because of that he is alive to continue to enjoy his well deserved semi-retirement.
I for one wished the article focused more on them.
Kudos to the wonderful women of the Bicol Association.
September 21, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sc4peace (anonymous) says...
I think he may realize that he put himself in danger which may be why he doesn't want the attention focused on him, but rather the nurses who helped him instead. I think he knew he was stepping into dangerous territory, but probably thought the chances were on his side- either way what's done is done- he is grateful to be alive and thanking those who saved it- he doesn't seem to be looking for pity to me. Glad he is okay
September 22, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
schivah (anonymous) says...
I have paid close attention to this story as a friend of the family. For the record, he was not 'noodling', it was a basic swim for exercise, he just happened to wearing a mask & snorkel to make breathing easier and to ensure he didn't swim over a shallow tree stump or other underwater obstacle. In fact, if you were to ask him, I KNOW he would find the entire concept of noodling absolutely ridiculous.
He was about 25-30 yards from the boat ramp at Short Stay, and while there are now alligator signs up, there were none at the time. The only gator warnings in that area were across the street at the small lily pad covered pond, which has always been home to a few small gators. According to the original article & his son's press conference he surveyed the entire shoreline before entering the water. While the area he was in is not a roped off swimming area, people do swim there. In fact, I took my owtd (open water training dives) in that exact spot to earn my Open water diving from The Wet Shop before they built their training pool. It was also later determined that people had been feeding it, which only encourages them to interact more when people are around rather than shying away back into the marsh.
Overall, I have to agree with efigueroa, "What's done is done" & "Kudos to the wonderful women of the Bicol Association."
September 22, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaptPete (anonymous) says...
The signs have been up for several years. Your friend chose to ignor the warnings and in doing so put others in danger.
September 22, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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