Marion County, Florida — A Florida woman is recovering after a vicious alligator attack in the Silver River left her with life-changing injuries and ultimately cost her right arm.
Dina Rae Spann, 58, was swimming with a group Saturday afternoon when an alligator suddenly attacked her. According to her son, Zach Guerrina, Spann tried to keep the animal’s mouth closed while fighting to reach the surface for air.
Guerrina said his mother was focused on protecting her legs during the terrifying struggle.
“It had her, but she said she was trying to make sure it didn’t get to her legs.”
Spann suffered severe injuries during the attack. Her right arm was amputated below the elbow, while her left hand was also injured, including the loss of part of her ring finger.
Boater Spots Alligator Racing Toward Swimmers
Nearby, John Gamache and his father were having lunch aboard their boat when they heard people screaming for help.
Gamache, who has been visiting the Silver Springs area for years, said he looked upriver and saw an alligator moving rapidly toward the swimmers.
“I looked just upriver from us a couple hundred feet and saw an alligator head way above the water and going full speed towards the swimmers,” Gamache told FOX 35 Orlando.
He immediately moved his boat toward the group.
By the time Gamache reached the swimmers, the alligator had released Spann. The approaching boat appeared to help scare the animal away, allowing Gamache to focus on getting the injured woman to safety.
Rope Became a Makeshift Tourniquet
Gamache found Spann holding onto a paddleboard with a devastating arm injury.
Realizing that controlling the bleeding was an immediate priority, he grabbed rope from his boat and used it as a makeshift tourniquet. Gamache described the scene as extremely serious.
“It was a terrible injury, bones poking out, blood everywhere. Obviously, the minutes mattered.”
Despite the severity of what had happened, Spann remained remarkably calm, according to her son, as Gamache and others worked to help her.
The rescuers brought the other swimmers aboard the boat before Gamache and his father transported the group to a nearby boat launch, where first responders were waiting.
Spann was then taken to a hospital for treatment.
Family Says Spann Is Back Home
Despite losing her right arm and suffering another serious hand injury, Spann’s family said she was back home and in good spirits by Sunday.
Her survival was helped by the quick actions of those around her, particularly Gamache, who said he was simply responding to people who needed help.
After the incident, Spann’s family contacted Gamache to thank him for coming to her aid. He said the conversation was emotional and described hearing the family’s reaction as heartwarming.
“We’re glad that it happened as good as it could have,” Gamache said.
He added:
“The result is just the sustained injury and nothing more.”
9-Foot-8-Inch Alligator Removed
Following the attack, authorities temporarily closed the Silver River while wildlife officials searched for the alligator involved.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said a contracted nuisance alligator trapper removed a 9-foot-8-inch alligator on Sunday.
The temporary closure was later lifted, allowing the river to reopen.
For Gamache, however, the attack was unlike anything he had witnessed during his many years visiting the Silver Springs area.
The incident serves as another reminder of the dangers that can exist in Florida’s waterways, where alligators are a natural part of the environment. For Spann and her family, the focus now shifts toward recovery after a frightening encounter that could have ended even more tragically.
What do you think about the boater’s quick actions during this terrifying attack? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
