health
Florida paddleboarder rescues woman from alligator attack
Mike Heard used his paddle to strike gator that had latched on to swimmer in Silver River after hearing yells of ‘Gator!’
TL;DR
- A paddleboarder, Mike Head, rescued a woman from an alligator attack in the Silver River, Marion County, Florida.
- Head used his paddle to hit the alligator, which had bitten the woman on the arm, causing it to release its grip.
- Another boater assisted in bringing the woman to shore, and Head used a rope as a tourniquet.
- Authorities trapped a 9ft 8in alligator from the area.
- The incident is one of several alligator attacks in Florida this summer, with one resulting in a fatality.
- The FWC advises the public to avoid feeding alligators, maintain a safe distance, swim only in designated areas during daylight, and keep pets leashed near water due to increasing encounters.