A woman in Florida suffered a devastating injury during a brutal alligator attack, but thanks to a Good Samaritan, she may have survived the incident.
On August 8, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that while swimming and paddleboarding in Silver River, the woman was attacked by a large alligator.
“It was a bad injury, bones were sticking out and blood was coming out everywhere.”
The alligator allegedly bit the woman on her right arm and pulled her underwater.
Mike Head was on the river with his family when he heard the urgent cries of “Gator!” coming from two women nearby.
Head described the alligator as being about 20 to 30 feet away, comparing its movements to that of “a missile.”
“And I could feel it getting to her. I was like, ‘This can’t be happening,'” he recalled.
Head said he was filled with thoughts like, ‘Is she okay? If I jump in, am I risking my life too?’ as he paddled towards her, trying to figure out what to do next.
In a moment of bravery, he decided to use his paddle as a weapon against the alligator. The victim was later identified as 58-year-old Dina Spann.
He recounted that the alligator had its jaws clamped down on Spann’s arm.
“I couldn’t swing from my position because I’d risk hitting her in the head. So I maneuvered around to the other side and swung. I can’t say if I hit it, but it disappeared after that,” Head recounted.
John Gamache and his father, who were also out on the water, rushed to give aid upon hearing the desperate calls.
As they arrived, the alligator let go of Spann, seemingly frightened off by the noise of their boat, according to reports.
The injuries inflicted by the alligator were grave, requiring immediate medical attention for the victim.
Zach Gerina, Spann’s son, shared that his mother maintained remarkable composure during the ordeal, even with her arm severely injured.
“It was a crazy situation, but she was the calmest person,” he noted, even as her arm was hanging by a thread.
Head improvised, using a rope to create a tourniquet to slow the bleeding.
“It was horrific, a terrible injury. Bones were protruding, and blood was everywhere. Time was crucial,” Gamache noted.
Good Samaritans helped pull Spann from the river and brought her to safety, but due to the severity of her injuries, her right arm had to be amputated.
Spann’s family later confirmed that she has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
A trapper working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission later captured the alligator, measuring 9 feet and 8 inches long. Following the incident, the area was temporarily closed off but has since reopened.
Spann’s family expressed their gratitude to Gamache for his quick actions.
“I spoke with them, and it was heartwarming to hear their appreciation,” Gamache said. “I’m relieved that it wasn’t worse in the end,” he added.
