MARION COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
The attack happened June 27 at Nelson Fish Camp near Umatilla.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Family member Andrew Raines said Brodie Terry had just caught a fish and was releasing it when the alligator attacked.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrodie\u2019s father jumped into the water on top of it and tried to pry his mouth open,\u201d Raines said. \u201cThe gator rolled, and that\u2019s what ultimately severed Brodie\u2019s hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raines said doctors performed multiple surgeries in an attempt to save Brodie\u2019s hand before amputating it at the wrist.<\/p>\n
Brodie was released from the hospital Friday and returned home to Pennsylvania over the weekend, where his recovery is continuing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two loves of his life were baseball and fishing,\u201d Raines said. \u201cIf he wasn\u2019t playing baseball, he was fishing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raines said Brodie\u2019s travel baseball coach drove to Florida to visit him in the hospital, and support has continued since the family returned home.<\/p>\n
A GoFundMe created to help the family has raised thousands of dollars to help cover medical expenses, lost income and future prosthetic costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s heartwarming to know that there\u2019s people that care,\u201d Raines said.<\/p>\n
Raines said while Brodie faces a long road ahead, his family\u2019s hope is simple.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to see him smile again and get back to being the same kid,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
FWC reminds people to keep their distance from alligators, never feed them and stay alert around the water\u2019s edge, especially during the warmer months when alligators are more active.<\/p>\n