A woman was rescued from an alligator attack in Marion County, Florida, over the weekend by a paddleboarder. The incident occurred on Saturday when an alligator bit the woman on the arm while she was swimming in the Silver River, according to local reports.
Paddleboarder Mike Head recounted hearing yells of “Gator!” while with his family. He described seeing the alligator approach the woman and then having its jaws locked onto her arm. Head used his paddle to strike the alligator, causing it to release its grip.
Another boater assisted in bringing the injured woman to shore, where Head used a rope as a tourniquet to control the bleeding. Following the attack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported that a 9ft 8in alligator has been trapped from the area.
This incident follows several other alligator attacks in Florida this summer. The FWC advises the public to maintain a safe distance from alligators, never feed them, and to swim only in designated areas during daylight hours.