Alligator launches ‘full speed’ attack & drags victim underwater as witnesses see ‘bones poking out & blood everywhere’

A QUICK-THINKING boater has been credited with saving a woman’s life after she was dragged underwater by a nearly 10-foot alligator. The woman, who has not yet been identified, was with her family in Silver River, east of Ocala, Florida, on Saturday when the reptile launched a “full speed” attack, witnesses said. A woman (not pictured) was in the Silver River in Florida when an alligator bit her arm and dragged her underwater Credit: Wesh TV Bystander John Gamache was on his boat nearby and jumped into action after he heard the attack unfold Credit: YouTube/Fox 35 Orlando The Florida woman fought back with a paddle after the 9-foot 8-inch alligator struck, but as she tried to fight it, it bit her arm. John Gamache was eating lunch with his father on their boat near the scene when they heard the events unfold. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Gamache told Fox affiliate WOFL that he spotted the alligator approaching the group in the clear spring water. “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,” he recalled. By the time Gamache was able to reach the woman, the alligator had let go of her, and the sound of his boat had the reptile fleeing. Gamache found the woman clinging to a paddleboard as several nearby swimmers appeared in distress. “I noticed just a cloud of blood, and four or five swimmers panic,” he said. “It did pull her under for awhile, and looking at the extent of her injury, there was a lot of action going on underwater.” Most read in The Sun He rushed to help her after seeing the state of her injuries and used a rope to make a tourniquet on her bleeding and mangled arm. “It was a terrible injury, bones poking out, blood everywhere,” he said. “Obviously, the minutes mattered.” Gamache and his father helped bring the other swimmers and children onto their boat before speeding off to a nearby boat launch. A 9-foot 8-inch alligator was later removed from the river (stock photo) Credit: Getty A sign near the river advises visitors of the dangers of alligators Credit: Wesh TV First responders then rushed the woman to the hospital, and on Sunday, her family confirmed to WOFL that she was discharged. The woman is now at home recovering after having her right arm amputated. Her family has since reached out to Gamache to express their gratitude for his quick-thinking efforts. “They called earlier and we talked for a while and it was heartwarming to hear them explain their emotions,” he said. “We’re glad that it happened as good as it could have. Like the result is just the sustained injury and nothing more.” Silver River closed temporarily after the attack as Marion County officials worked to remove the alligator. The river was back open on Sunday. Wildlife officials have urged anyone with concerns about an alligator sighting to contact the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.