Florida Teen Survives Alligator Attack With Injuries

On June 22, 15-year-old Summer Hinote was attacked by a 10-foot alligator while swimming with friends in waist-deep water at Pond Creek in Okaloosa County, Florida. The alligator seized her leg, dragged her underwater, and shook her violently, but Hinote fought back by punching its head until it released her. She sustained severe leg injuries but did not require amputation. Her friends pulled her to safety and immediately called her mother and emergency services for help. The incident underscores the dangers posed by Florida’s estimated 1.25 million alligators, prompting officials to urge caution in freshwater areas. Hinote’s survival is credited to her quick thinking, bravery, and the prompt actions of those around her.