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.