Alligator bites arm off woman in Wekiva River

Wildlife officials said the woman was swimming in a remote area when the alligator bit her arm, just below the shoulder.

The attack happened in the Wekiva River, which was crowded with swimmers, at around 3:30 p.m.

Witnesses said the woman emerged out the river naked and bloody.

“She was in the water swimming, backstroking, just swimming”. Next thing you know, we heard the people come up and say, ‘Get a boat.

When nearby kayakers realized that the woman, who appeared to be in her late 30s or early 40s, was being attacked, they started hitting the alligator with their paddles.

“Everybody was saying there were gators in the water”, said Deborah Morris. “Like completely gone. Elbow down gone”.

Initial reports are that the woman felt something grab her arm and pull her under.

The woman told paramedics she felt her arm break and lost track of how many times the gator pulled her under.

That gator remained on the loose for hours, leaving Seminole County deputies and Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators collecting evidence around Wekiva Island.

Though initial reports were that the victim was a woman, the FWC said they have received conflicting information on the gender and other details. Her condition is now unknown.

This is a developing story.