Woman's arm nearly torn off in Florida alligator attack, son recounts rescue
Dina Spann was mauled by an alligator while swimming in Florida's Silver River, leaving her right arm barely attached, her son said.
During a family outing on the Silver River in Marion County, Florida, Dina Spann, 58, was swimming when an alligator surged toward her. She attempted to scare the reptile away with a stick, but it seized her right arm, causing a near-fatal wound. Witnesses quickly improvised a tourniquet using her bikini top and later secured an anchor rope around the injured limb.
A passing boat rescued her, and she was taken ashore while remaining unusually composed. Her son, Zach Guerrina, recounted the harrowing scene, noting the severity of the arm injury and the quick actions of bystanders. The incident underscores the risks of wildlife encounters in popular water recreation areas.
Why it matters
The story warns swimmers and boaters about the real danger of alligator attacks in Florida waterways.
In this story