Florida Woman Loses Arm in Alligator Attack: Son Blames Tourists
The son of a Florida woman who suffered a serious injury from an alligator attack is pointing fingers at tourists and TikTok users for contributing to the animal’s increasing comfort around humans.
Dina Spann, 58, was attacked while floating in the Silver River in Marion County. Her son, Zach Guerina, expressed concerns to the New York Post, stating that the behavior of people feeding and getting too close to alligators might be making these creatures less fearful of humans.
“I grew up in Florida, and this sort of thing never happened to me,” Guerina remarked. “I’m often in the water, but I’ve always kept my distance from alligators. We have many tourists and newcomers who encounter alligators for the first time.”
He added, “There are actual videos of individuals petting alligators. Doing that decreases the alligator’s natural fear of humans. When they get too close, well, it can end badly.”
Gerina mentioned that her family has enjoyed floating down the Silver River since her childhood, with countless peaceful trips. However, she’s now noticed TikTok videos of visitors dangerously kayaking near crocodiles.
“This could happen again if people keep feeding them. They’ll come right at you,” he said.
Spann was swimming in a restricted area when the crocodile attacked. Attempting to defend herself with a paddle, she was dragged underwater as the creature latched onto her right arm.
Nearby boater John Gamache, who was having lunch with his father, heard the disturbance and rushed to help. “Just a few hundred feet away, I saw the alligator charging toward the swimmers,” Gamache recounted.
The crocodile eventually fled from the approaching boat, but Spann suffered severe injuries. “It was a terrible injury, bones were exposed, and there was a lot of blood. Time was crucial,” Gamache stated.
Gamache quickly used a rope to tie up Spann’s injured arm, while his father assisted other swimmers onto their boat. They brought everyone to a nearby launch area for medical help.
Guerina confirmed that although Spann survived, her right arm was amputated below the elbow, and she lost at least one finger from her left hand. He remarked that she remained “in good spirits,” describing her as a “hippie soul” who loved animals and travel. Prior to the attack, she had just returned from Africa.
Guerina also suggested that Florida should permit more alligator hunting. “There are simply too many alligators here,” he said. “In recent weeks, three people have been bitten, a child lost a hand, a girl died, and now this.”
He continued, “I’m not advocating for eradicating alligators, but put them in places where they’re safer, like swamps. If you’re in spring water, you shouldn’t have to worry about alligators.”
This attack occurred less than two months after another incident in June, where an 11-year-old boy from Pennsylvania lost his hand to an alligator in Marion County. Tragically, only a day later, another fatal alligator attack took place in Florida.
A woman named Brittany Clark, 31, was hiking near Orlando when she and her friends entered the Econlockhatchee River to cool off. While kneeling in shallow water, a large alligator attacked, resulting in severe injuries and her eventual death before rescue workers arrived.
In response to Spann’s incident, trappers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured a 9-foot-8-inch alligator from the Silver River the following Sunday, and the river has since reopened to the public.
