Newly released emergency recordings have revealed the frantic moments after a 58-year-old Florida mother was attacked by an alligator while swimming in the Silver River. Witnesses can be heard desperately asking dispatchers for help as they describe the woman’s devastating injuries.

Dina Spann survived the August 8 attack, but the incident permanently changed her life. Her right arm was amputated below the elbow, and she also lost part of a finger on her left hand.

The recordings, obtained by the New York Post and reported on November 6, capture the confusion and urgency among people who rushed to help her after the animal struck.

In one call, a woman tells the dispatcher that someone has been attacked and describes the victim’s arm as hanging off. She then explains that Spann has lost a significant portion of her arm and urgently asks for emergency assistance.

A second recording captures another caller attempting to explain the situation while a woman can be heard screaming and crying in the background.

“Her arm is gone,” the caller tells the dispatcher.

The recordings offer a new glimpse into the frightening aftermath of an incident that initially drew attention because of the severity of Spann’s injuries and the extraordinary efforts made by bystanders to save her.

A FAMILY OUTING TURNED INTO A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
The attack happened on August 8, 2026, at the Silver River near Ray Wayside Park in Marion County, Florida.

Spann was spending time with family members during a boating outing. At one point, she entered the water with two teenage relatives and her son’s girlfriend.

According to her son, Zach Guerrina, 38, he had left his mother floating in the river with the others shortly before the alligator approached.

A nearby boater, John Gamache, was having lunch with his father when he noticed something unusual in the water.

Gamache later told FOX 35 Orlando that he saw an alligator moving rapidly toward the swimmers, with its head raised above the surface.

He immediately recognized the danger and moved his boat toward the group.

By the time he reached the area, the alligator had released Spann, but several people were in distress. Gamache saw swimmers struggling in the water and a large cloud of blood around the victim.

The animal had pulled Spann underwater during the attack, leaving her with catastrophic injuries.

The speed of the response would prove critical.

SPANN FOUGHT BACK AGAINST THE ALLIGATOR
One of the most remarkable details came from Guerrina, who described how his mother attempted to defend herself while trapped by the animal.

According to his account, Spann tried to hold the alligator’s jaws shut while struggling to reach the surface and breathe.

She was also trying to prevent the animal from reaching her legs.

Before the alligator clamped down on her right forearm, she lost part of her left ring finger during the struggle.

Guerrina said his mother was not simply waiting for help. She was actively fighting to escape and trying to protect the rest of her body.

The attack left her right arm severely damaged, with the injury so extensive that it was barely attached.

The situation was extremely dangerous, but Spann managed to survive until nearby boaters reached her.

BYSTANDERS USED A ROPE TO CONTROL THE BLEEDING
When Gamache and the other rescuers reached Spann, they immediately recognized the seriousness of her injuries.

Gamache described the scene as a terrible injury, with visible bone and extensive bleeding.

He understood that time was critical.

The rescuers needed to get Spann out of the water and control the bleeding as quickly as possible.

According to Guerrina, people at the scene used Spann’s bikini top and an anchor rope to create makeshift tourniquets around her injured arm.

The improvised measures were intended to slow the blood loss while the group arranged transportation to emergency medical care.

Gamache and his father also helped bring other swimmers and children aboard their boat before speeding toward a nearby boat launch.

Emergency responders then transported Spann to the hospital.

The rescue involved several people working together under extremely difficult circumstances. Their quick response helped get her out of the water and into medical care.

Gamache later said the family contacted him to express their gratitude. He described the conversation as emotional and said it was heartwarming to hear how much his assistance had meant to them.

THE 911 RECORDINGS REVEAL THE PANIC
The newly released recordings provide a different perspective on the incident.

In the first call, a woman urgently tells the dispatcher that someone has been attacked by an alligator. As she tries to explain the victim’s condition, she describes the arm as dangling and says that Spann has lost a substantial portion of it.

The caller repeatedly emphasizes the need for emergency assistance.

The second recording is equally distressing. A man provides the location as the Silver River while a woman cries and screams in the background.

He then tells the dispatcher that the woman’s arm is gone.

The recordings reflect the confusion and fear experienced by witnesses who were suddenly confronted with a life-threatening emergency.

They also help explain why those at the scene acted so quickly to bring Spann to safety.

Although the audio captures only a short period after the attack, it documents the urgency of the rescue effort and the severity of the injuries.

THE ALLIGATOR WAS NEARLY 10 FEET LONG
Following the incident, wildlife authorities began investigating the attack.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arranged for a contracted trapping team to locate the animal believed to be responsible.

On August 9, one day after the attack, a 9-foot, 8-inch alligator was captured and removed from the river.

The removal allowed officials to reopen the affected area to the public.

Authorities have not publicly provided additional evidence establishing every detail of the animal’s behavior immediately before the attack. However, the removal was part of the response to the incident.

The presence of large alligators in Florida’s freshwater environments is well documented. They can be found in rivers, lakes, marshes and other waterways throughout the state.

Wildlife officials regularly remind residents and visitors that alligators are wild animals and should never be approached, fed or disturbed.

Even when an area appears calm, an alligator may be difficult to see beneath the water.

SPANN’S INJURIES CHANGED HER LIFE
After receiving emergency treatment, Spann began a long recovery.

Doctors were unable to save her right forearm, and it was eventually amputated below the elbow.

She also lost part of her left ring finger.

In September, Spann shared a video on Facebook showing the extent of her injuries and offering an update on her recovery.

Rather than allowing the attack to define her future, she chose to share a message of determination.

“The gator got a piece of me. It didn’t get the best of me,” she wrote.

Her post showed that recovery was not always easy, but she was learning to appreciate small improvements and find reasons to laugh despite the difficult circumstances.

Her family also confirmed that she had been discharged from the hospital following the incident.

The physical changes are permanent, and Spann faces the challenge of adapting to life with one arm and partial loss of a finger on her other hand.

Her recovery involves more than healing from the original injuries. She must also adjust to everyday activities that may now require different techniques, additional assistance or rehabilitation.

A RESCUER WHO ACTED WHEN EVERY MINUTE MATTERED
Gamache’s role in the rescue has also become an important part of the story.

He was not part of Spann’s family and was simply nearby when the attack occurred.

After noticing the alligator approaching the swimmers, he moved toward the scene and helped bring the injured woman and other people out of the water.

His quick response, along with assistance from his father and other bystanders, helped prevent an already dangerous situation from becoming even worse.

Spann’s family later contacted him to express their appreciation.

For the rescuers, the incident was an experience they are unlikely to forget. For Spann and her family, their actions became a crucial part of the story of how she survived.

OTHER SERIOUS ALLIGATOR INCIDENTS IN FLORIDA
The attack on Spann occurred during a year that has already seen several serious alligator-related incidents across Florida.

In June 2026, 31-year-old Brittany Clark died after being attacked while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest in Seminole County.

Another incident involved an 11-year-old boy, Brodie Terry, who lost his hand after an alligator attacked him during a fishing trip in Marion County in June.

In October, a 71-year-old fisherman was killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator near Lake Apopka, according to reports.

Although alligator attacks are relatively uncommon compared with the number of people who visit Florida’s waterways, these incidents demonstrate the risks of entering freshwater areas where the animals may be present.

Wildlife officials advise people to remain alert near the water, avoid swimming in areas where alligators are known to be present and never attempt to feed or approach them.

A SURVIVOR DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD
The release of the 911 recordings has brought renewed attention to Spann’s experience, months after the attack.

The audio captures the fear of those who witnessed the aftermath, but the larger story is one of survival and the people who stepped forward to help.

Spann lost her right arm below the elbow and part of a finger on her left hand. She endured emergency treatment, surgery and a difficult recovery.

Yet her September message showed that she was determined to move forward rather than allow the incident to take away her outlook on life.

For her family, the attack remains a frightening reminder of how quickly an ordinary day on the water can turn into an emergency.

For the rescuers, it is a reminder of the importance of acting quickly when someone is in danger.

And for Spann, the challenge now is rebuilding her daily life after surviving an encounter that could easily have ended very differently.