A woman was hospitalized after being bitten on the arm by a crocodile while swimming in the Silver River, in Marion County, Florida, in a new incident involving these reptiles recorded during the summer in the central part of the state.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, which cited information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the attack occurred last Saturday, and several people in the area assisted the victim and helped her return to shore.
The woman was subsequently transported to a hospital as a trauma alert, reported Marion County Fire Rescue.
Authorities had not provided any new details regarding his health status until this Sunday, noted FOX 35 Orlando.
FWC agents and a trapper hired by the nuisance alligator control program went to the site to locate the reptile.
The animal was found on Sunday and removed from the area.
The alligator measured 9 feet and 8 inches, approximately 2.95 meters, according to the FWC.
Marion County authorities temporarily closed the Silver River while efforts were underway to locate and remove the animal.
The river reopened to the public this Sunday.
The episode adds to a series of attacks reported in Florida over the past few weeks.
At the end of June, Brittany Clark, 31 years old, died after being attacked by an almost four-meter-long alligator while she was at the Econlockhatchee River in Seminole County.
One day before that attack, an 11-year-old boy lost his right hand after being attacked by a 2.62-meter alligator at Nelson Fish Camp, also in Marion County.
The child's father lunged at the reptile and tried to pry its jaws open to save his son.
Another incident occurred on June 21, when a 19-year-old was bitten while practicing surface diving in the Rainbow River, also in Marion.
The series of attacks has led specialists to stress that many of these incidents can be prevented by avoiding risky behaviors in areas inhabited by alligators.
The FWC recommends swimming only in designated areas and during daylight hours, keeping a distance from alligators, not feeding them, and exercising heightened caution near freshwater and brackish bodies of water.
The agency reminds that these reptiles are especially active between dusk and dawn.
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