The heroic Pennsylvania dad who jumped on an alligator that attacked his son has shared the boy’s reaction to the terrifying mauling — saying he’s “definitely afraid of Florida” in a tearful interview.
Brodie Dituri, 11, who was bitten by the gator while fishing in Marion County last week, has since seen a doctor to discuss a possible transplant or prosthetics, his father, Peter Dituri, told WESH.
The brave boy was fishing with his dad while on a family vacation June 27, when the 8-foot-7 gator chomped down on his right hand as he was releasing a fish back into the water, Peter Dituri told the local station.
Peter Dituri frantically jumped onto the gator and tried to pry its massive jaws open while shouting for someone to call 911, he said.
“There was no thought process. It was just instinct,” the dad told the station.
The ruthless reptile then rolled — a maneuver used to drown and tear apart their prey— and severed part of the boy’s hand, which was later amputated.
“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.
Bystanders quickly rushed to help.
“From having nobody around to having people there, I can’t thank them enough,” Peter Dituri said, choking up with tears.
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He and his son have loved fishing together in Florida for the past couple years, he said.
“He always has to bring his fishing pole with him,” the dad said. “Any chance he sees water, he’s like, ‘Let’s go fishing.’”
But the harrowing attack will likely keep them from returning to the Sunshine State anytime soon.
“Right now, that’s absolutely not gonna happen,” Peter said. “He is definitely afraid of Florida.”
