A freak accident in Gales Point Manatee has left that small community in shock. 46 year old Anton Andrewin was killed by a pig that was wandering close to his yard. At first, the family thought the pig bit the man, but actually, it was the pig's tusk that gored him and caused him to bleed out.
It's a death that the police are still investigating, but for the villagers, while they are distraught, they're not surprised since this pig has been showing aggressive behavior ever since it first broke out of its enclosure.
But who is the owner? And why did it attack Andrewin? Courtney Menzies went to Gales Point today to find out more. Here is that story.
This is the head of a pig that took the life of 46 year old Anton Andrewin yesterday afternoon. Andrewin was sitting here under this shed with his wife and some friends when the pig came nearby.
It's not uncommon for pigs to be wandering around, so they didn't think much of it and was only trying to chase it away. But that's when the situation turned fatal.
Sharlene Andrewin, Wife of Deceased
"We started drinking and conversing and the pigs were there and he got up and the dog charged at the big one and he went as well. The pig, he was throwing something at the pig and the pig was really aggressive and charged at him like twice and I screamed and said, stop stoning that pig, that pig will bite you."
"Like the third time when I saw the pig charging, I didn't realize that it bit him or anything but when he was coming the man said a bad word and said that the pig bit the man and he was coming and he was holding it and he was coming and by the time he reached there and the man took him in his hand and I pulled his boxers and I saw a cut opened so wide and blood just gushing out."
"We left and unfortunately we got to the hospital and 20 minutes after, the lady came out and said that he didn't make it."
But it wasn't just a bite - the pig's tusk sliced Andrewin's inner leg like a knife, severing an artery, which caused him to bleed out.
It's the first time his wife has seen something like this happen, but she says that the village is wary of that specific pig. Even the chairman agreed that it's been an issue they have been dealing with for a while.
Sharlene Andrewin, Wife of Deceased
"That particular pig is very aggressive. It chases people, it gets really aggressive and as far as I know, well, the owner for the pig is not around, he's probably in prison or something. That pig is aggressive."
Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee
"Tragic thing, didn't need to have to happen. We've been chasing pigs, we've had issues in the village with animals in general not being fenced. This was a pig that had an owner, was fenced for a long time and then he got into trouble with the law and that led to him not taking care of his pig, his pig went wild, it happened to be the oldest, biggest pig, nearly 400-450 pounds. And he had gone basically feral, wild if you will, and just nothing could stop him, dogs couldn't stop him, all sorts of things. So we were in the process of moving him but it was a little too late because we didn't imagine something like this."
And shortly after the incident, that pig was killed. But now Altschaft is hoping it serves as a warning to other farmers and other villages.
Jason Altshaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee
"When we found out that the children's [father] had passed away, of course the son just lost it and started chasing the pig, wanted to kill the pig. He actually got to it and chopped it a couple times but I have a licensed firearm and we put the pig down humanely and basically it became a sacrifice at that point. We just wanted to eliminate the pig and get rid of any signs of the thing. That's what the family needed."
"It's been a serious issue, as a council we've been raising it to people, they've had enough time. It's hard for rural communities to find money to start businesses. We have extra mangoes, we have things like this to actually support livestock around. But now we fully understand it's different when it comes to pig. They need to be contained but they are very difficult to contain because when they get into heat they can break out of anything, especially a pig that size. So you have to be, well, prepared and we were not and I just home this is a lesson for all the villages, all the rural community to pay attention."
Still, for the Andrewin family, they're still trying to come to terms with how their loved one could have been laughing one minute and exsanguinate the next.
His wife said that she will miss his joviality the most.
Sharlene Andrewin, Wife of Deceased
"I remember him as a vibrant person. He's funny and everything. He doesn't cause problems, he's not a problem person. When you're around him, you will laugh most of the time. He's such a sweetheart, he is a sweetheart."
"By the grace of God, I'm here. I don't know what to think, what to do, anything, my kids, everything my kids are going through. it's really a hard time for us right now, I recently lost my grandpa, not even a year, and I lost my great grandma like 3 years ago, and I was the person who was taking care of them. And now him, it's a lot. It's a whole lot, I'm just trying by grace. I'm just trying."
The couple have 5 kids and 3 grandchildren, with more on the way.
The police have taken custody of the pig's head as part of their investigation. The body, however, has become a meal for the dogs in the village.
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