Alligator Bites 13-Year-Old Florida Girl Swimming With Friends At Popular Paddle Boat Ramp

Zolfo Springs, Florida -- An alligator attacked a teenager at a popular Hardee County paddle boat ramp, while she was swimming with her friends, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The 13-year-old has been identified as Briann Morr. The incident took place “near Gardner Boat Ramp in Zolfo Springs,” officials said, according to Yahoo News. “The FWC responded to the scene and a 13-year-old female was transported to the hospital with injuries, but is stable."

Morr and her friends were at Gardner Boat Ramp in Zolfo Springs when the gator emerged out of the water and attacked her. The size of the alligator was not known.

“I turn around because I heard something go through the water and the gator tried to grab my foot and I kicked my foot under the water,” Briann said, according to NBC2.

She tried to escape, but the reptile came closer.

“I saw its mouth open cause I turned my head and I saw its mouth open and close on my arm and that’s when I smacked it,” Briann said.

“I felt my back and there was a hole in it,” Briann said, adding she was currently facing trouble lifting and moving her arm. However, there was no permanent damage.

“I feel lucky to have my daughter. Right now we’d probably be planning a funeral if she didn’t think so fast,” Briann's mother, Krystal, said.

According to FWC, a contracted nuisance alligator trapper has been dispatched to the scene to locate the reptile. They will attempt to capture the alligator. Officials might decide to kill the reptile if it is large. But, if small, it may be relocated to a less-populated area.

In 2021, the FWC reported there have been eight unprovoked alligator attacks over the last ten years that resulted in the victim seeking serious medical attention. Between 1948 and 2021 in Florida, 26 people have been killed from alligator bites.

“The likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly only one in 3.1 million,” the commission stated.