Florida Woman Hospitalized After Alligator Nearly Bites Off Hand

Florida Woman Hospitalized After Alligator Nearly Bites Off Hand
File: Alligator in Florida (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
8/14/2016
Updated:
8/14/2016

A Florida woman is in critical condition at the hospital after being attacked by an alligator in the Florida Everglades on Aug 12.

Kimberly Sexton, 49, was at a Willard’s Fish Camp in the Everglades when she dropped a can in the water.

“She got on her knees, put her left hand on the dock, leaned over and grabbed the can,” Airboat Rides Capt. Wayne Gilbert told Local 10 News. “And when she did that, she caused, you know, a ripple in the water, a splash, and there happened to be a gator laying right there.”  

A group of people with Sexton pulled her back to keep her from falling into the water, which probably saved her life, authorities say.

After the incident, Sexton was airlifted to Broward Health North, where she has received emergency surgery for injuries on her right hand and has been recovering. Authorities say that Sexton lost a lot of blood.

“The hand was still attached, though it was a very severe, almost full amputation of the hand,” Mike Jachles, spokesman for the Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue, told Local 10 News.

“Her hand was pretty much dangling at that time when she got to the helicopter,” said Gilbert

The 4-5 foot alligator was later captured by an alligator trapper, according to Local 10 News.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was investigating the incident.