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Woman Bitten By Alligator In Florida Everglades

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DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) – A Central Florida woman is recovering in a Deerfield Beach hospital after being bitten by an alligator, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.

BSFR tells us the woman, who is 49 years old, was at a fish camp in the Everglades about 1 1/2 miles from Coral Springs when she was bitten.

"She was standing on the dock, dropped a can into the water and as she reached in to retrieve the can that's when she was bitten by the alligator," said BSFR Spokesperson Mike Jachles.

Jachles said the bite from the 4-5 foot gator, which is known to live in the area, was severe.

"She sustained a severe hand injury that was almost a full amputation of the right hand near the wrist," Jachles said.

People who know the remote area say gators are a way of life.

"There's a lot of gators down there," said a woman who frequents the area.

After the bite, Jachles says several people ran to help the woman and prevented her from falling into the water.  We're told she suffered significant blood loss and went into shock. Someone called 911 and directed rescuers to the spot, Jachles said, and paramedics performed significant life support measures and had the victim on the ground at the hospital in less than an hour.

"The quick response of our Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Flight Medics  and the pre-hospital care that was administered certainly played a part in getting her to to the trauma center within that Golden Hour," he said.

The woman's name has not been released. We're told that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is continuing the investigation.

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