A new report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has revealed that a female alligator attacked a group of 20 kayakers on March 3
64-year-old Christiane Salvador was paddling a canal in Polk County, Florida, with her husband Philip when the reptile grabbed her arm
She is expected to have several reconstructive surgeries on her severed arm
New details have emerged of an intense alligator attack on 20 kayakers in Florida that left a woman with a nearly severed arm.
The attack happened on March 3 as the group paddled the water on a canal in Polk County, according to a new report issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, per 7News Miami, ABC17news and Local KSNB Local 4,
This included 64-year-old Christiane Salvador, who was visiting the canal with her husband Philip and suddenly felt something “bump against her paddle” near a section of the canal called Tiger Creek, the outlets reported.
Salvador’s kayak then flipped, sending her into the water.
“There’s an alligator on my arm,” she then reportedly screamed, while trying to keep her head above water.
Seeing his wife in distress, Philip was somehow able to drag her on top of the upturned kayak; however, her arm was still stuck underwater, the outlets reported.
At this stage, another kayaker arrived to help before that alligator tore into his lifejacket and pulled him under the water, the report added, per the outlets.
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In a feat of huge bravery, the unnamed man then stuck his fingers in the reptile’s eyes before taking off his life vest, causing the alligator to swim away with the jacket, 7News Miami reported.
The alligator, which was reportedly over 8 feet long, was later captured and killed, the outlets added.
Christiane was flown to Osceola Regional Hospital, where staff treated her severed arm, reported ABC17news. She is expected to have several reconstructive surgeries.
It is believed that the alligator may have been a female acting to protect her hatchlings, reptile expert Kim Titterington told 7News Miami.
“If you walk out back, and you’re sitting in your lawn chair, and all of a sudden a parade of 20 people just walk through your backyard, you are going to feel like you need to defend your space,” Titterington said.
“When a female has her babies, they are very defensive, high protection, because they have to protect their babies from other male gators as well.”
PEOPLE has contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Polky County Fire Rescue for information.
