MARION COUNTY, Fla. — 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.
Brodie Dituri and his father, Peter Dituri, had traveled to Florida, where fishing had become a tradition during their family vacations.
“For the last couple of years, we’ve been going down there,” Peter Dituri said.
According to his father, Brodie never traveled without his fishing rod.
“He always has to bring his fishing pole with him. So any chance he sees water, he’s like, ‘Let’s go fishing,’” Peter Dituri said.
The attack happened at Nelson’s Fish Camp in Marion County after Brodie caught a fish. As he bent down to release it, an alligator suddenly grabbed his arm.
Peter Dituri said he immediately jumped on the alligator, trying to force its jaws open and free his son.
“There was no thought process. It was just instinct,” he said.
He later learned from responding officers that his actions may have prevented an even more tragic outcome.
“The officers all said that if I didn’t go on top of it and had caused it to roll, it would have pulled him into the water before rolling,” Peter Dituri said.
As Peter Dituri called for someone to dial 911, nearby bystanders rushed to help.
“From having nobody around to having people there, I can’t thank them enough,” he said through tears.
The family has since returned home to Pennsylvania, where Brodie is beginning what his father describes as a long physical and emotional recovery.
Doctors have discussed both hand transplant and prosthetic options. For now, Peter Dituri says his son is leaning toward using a prosthetic.
“He’s leaning in towards looking at the prosthetics,” he said.
The loss is especially difficult because Brodie’s right hand was his dominant hand, which he relied on while playing baseball and football.
The traumatic attack has also changed how the family views future trips to Florida.
Asked whether Brodie would want to return, his father said, “Right now, that’s absolutely not gonna happen. He is definitely afraid of Florida.”
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said the alligator believed to be responsible for the attack was captured and euthanized.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help with Brodie’s medical expenses.
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