An 11-year-old boy has lost his right hand after an alligator attacked him during a family fishing trip in Florida on June 27.
Brodie Terry was on the shore at Nelson's Fish Camp near Umatilla when an approximately eight-and-a-half-foot alligator emerged from the water and attacked him as he released a fish back into the river. A family member, Andrew Raines, told News 6 Orlando that Brodie's father intervened, jumping into the water to try and pry open the alligator's mouth. The alligator rolled, which resulted in severing Brodie's hand.
Brodie was transported to a hospital, where surgeons amputated his hand at the wrist after multiple attempts to save the limb. He was released on Friday and has returned to his home in Pennsylvania with his family. The family described the incident as a "life-altering event" and have started a fundraising page to cover medical expenses.
"Brodie's passion for fishing, baseball and football have always brought him joy, and now he faces the challenge of adapting to his new circumstances while holding onto the things he loves," the GoFundMe states. "Your donation will help his family focus on his recovery and give Brodie the opportunity to pursue his passions once again."
Brodie's family noted that the injury is especially devastating as baseball and fishing were central to his life. "If he wasn't playing baseball, he was fishing," Raines said.
The attack occurred on the same day that Brittany Clark, 31, was killed in a separate alligator attack in Florida's Little Big Econ State Forest. Clark was hiking with her boyfriend and a friend when they entered a river. According to 911 audio, an alligator attacked Clark, tearing off both of her arms.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that the alligators involved in both attacks have been euthanized. While alligator attacks on humans are rare in the U.S., the commission notes that alligators can be more territorial during their mating season, which typically runs from April through June.