MARION COUNTY, Fla. – An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy is back home after losing his hand in an alligator attack during a family fishing trip in Marion County.
The attack happened June 27 at Nelson Fish Camp near Umatilla.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the boy was fishing from shore when an alligator bit his hand. An FWC officer later killed the 8-foot, 7-inch alligator involved in the attack.
Family member Andrew Raines said Brodie Terry had just caught a fish and was releasing it when the alligator attacked.
“Brodie’s father jumped into the water on top of it and tried to pry his mouth open,” Raines said. “The gator rolled, and that’s what ultimately severed Brodie’s hand.”
Raines said doctors performed multiple surgeries in an attempt to save Brodie’s hand before amputating it at the wrist.
Brodie was released from the hospital Friday and returned home to Pennsylvania over the weekend, where his recovery is continuing.
“The two loves of his life were baseball and fishing,” Raines said. “If he wasn’t playing baseball, he was fishing.”
Raines said Brodie’s travel baseball coach drove to Florida to visit him in the hospital, and support has continued since the family returned home.
A GoFundMe created to help the family has raised thousands of dollars to help cover medical expenses, lost income and future prosthetic costs.
“It’s heartwarming to know that there’s people that care,” Raines said.
Raines said while Brodie faces a long road ahead, his family’s hope is simple.
“I just want to see him smile again and get back to being the same kid,” he said.
FWC reminds people to keep their distance from alligators, never feed them and stay alert around the water’s edge, especially during the warmer months when alligators are more active.
The GoFundMe fundraiser to support the family can be found HERE.