MARION COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy is facing a long recovery after losing his right hand in an alligator attack during a family fishing trip in Marion County.<\/p>\n
Brodie Dituri and his father, Peter Dituri, had traveled to Florida, where fishing had become a tradition during their family vacations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the last couple of years, we\u2019ve been going down there,\u201d Peter Dituri said.<\/p>\n
According to his father, Brodie never traveled without his fishing rod.<\/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 Peter Dituri said.<\/p>\n
The attack happened at Nelson\u2019s Fish Camp in Marion County after Brodie caught a fish. As he bent down to release it, an alligator suddenly grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n
Peter Dituri said he immediately jumped on the alligator, trying to force its jaws open and free his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no thought process. It was just instinct,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He later learned from responding officers that his actions may have prevented an even more tragic outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe officers all said that if I didn\u2019t go on top of it and had caused it to roll, it would have pulled him into the water before rolling,\u201d Peter Dituri said.<\/p>\n
As Peter Dituri called for someone to dial 911, nearby bystanders rushed to help.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom having nobody around to having people there, I can\u2019t thank them enough,\u201d he said through tears.<\/p>\n
The family has since returned home to Pennsylvania, where Brodie is beginning what his father describes as a long physical and emotional recovery.<\/p>\n
Doctors have discussed both hand transplant and prosthetic options. For now, Peter Dituri says his son is leaning toward using a prosthetic.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s leaning in towards looking at the prosthetics,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The loss is especially difficult because Brodie\u2019s right hand was his dominant hand, which he relied on while playing baseball and football.<\/p>\n
The traumatic attack has also changed how the family views future trips to Florida.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Brodie would want to return, his father said, \u201cRight now, that\u2019s absolutely not gonna happen. He is definitely afraid of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said the alligator believed to be responsible for the attack was captured and euthanized.<\/p>\n