MARION COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 An 11-year-old boy is recovering after losing his right hand in an alligator attack while fishing with his father in Marion County.<\/p>\n
The child and his father, Peter Dituri, are back home in Pennsylvania after a family trip to Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the last couple of years, we\u2019ve been going down there,\u201d Dituri said.<\/p>\n
For Brodie, every trip meant one thing: fishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always has to bring his fishing pole with him. So any chance he sees water, he\u2019s like, \u2018Let\u2019s go fishing,\u2019\u201d Dituri said.<\/p>\n
The father and son were fishing at Nelson\u2019s Fish Camp in Marion County when Brodie caught a fish.<\/p>\n
As he went to release it, an alligator grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n
Dituri said he immediately jumped on the alligator, trying to pry its jaws open to free his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no thought process. It was just instinct,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said officers later told him that if he had not jumped on the alligator and caused it to roll, it would have pulled Brodie into the water before rolling.<\/p>\n
As he yelled for someone to call 911, bystanders rushed over to help.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom having nobody around to having people there, I can\u2019t thank them enough,\u201d Dituri said through tears.<\/p>\n
Now, the family is focused on Brodie\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n
Dituri said they are headed to another doctor\u2019s appointment, one of many still ahead.<\/p>\n
Doctors have discussed both transplant and prosthetic options as Brodie begins adjusting to life after the attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s leaning in toward looking at the prosthetics,\u201d Dituri said.<\/p>\n
Dituri said Brodie\u2019s right hand was also his dominant hand, especially when playing baseball and football.<\/p>\n
The road ahead will be long, both physically and mentally. Brodie said he is now \u201cdefinitely afraid of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said they have captured and killed the alligator believed to be responsible for the attack.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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