11-year-old boy loses hand in Florida alligator attack

An 11-year-old boy from Pennsylvania lost his right hand after being attacked by an alligator during a family fishing trip in Florida on June 27. The incident occurred at Nelsons Fish Camp in Marion County as Brodie Terry was releasing a fish back into the water.

According to family members, an alligator measuring eight feet, seven inches lunged from the water and clamped onto Brodie's hand. His father immediately jumped into the water, attempting to pry the animal's jaws open. The alligator then performed a defensive roll, a maneuver that severed the boy's hand and broke nearly every bone in his lower arm.

Brodie was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed multiple surgeries in an effort to save his hand before ultimately amputating it. He was discharged from the hospital the following Friday and has since returned home to Pennsylvania to recover. Family members described him as being in good spirits following his release.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that the alligator believed to be responsible for the attack was later captured and killed. Officials stated this is a standard part of their response protocol for such incidents.