- A woman swimming in the Silver River near Ocala, Florida , survived a severe alligator attack after attempting to ward off the approaching reptile with a paddle before it grabbed her arm and dragged her underwater.
- Nearby boater John Gamache witnessed the charging animal and quickly navigated his vessel toward the swimmers to scare off the alligator before it could inflict further harm.
- Recognizing the severity of the victim's life-threatening injuries, Gamache used a rope to create a tourniquet for her arm and transported the group to a boat launch where first responders took over.
- The victim's family reported that she survived the attack and was released from the hospital, though she lost her right arm as a result of her injuries.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers subsequently tracked down and removed the 9-foot 8-inch alligator, allowing officials to reopen the section of the river on August 9.
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