A woman is recalling a horrifying alligator attack in Florida. Her fight for survival and ultimate recovery can only be described as a miracle.
A Florida doctor's face-to-face encounter with an 8-foot alligator this summer, followed by her fight for survival and ultimate recovery, can only be described as a miracle.WATCH THE SCRIPPS NEWS GROUP EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BELOW: Dr.
Amber Perren, 27, and her husband, Kelby, said they had taken their dog, Poncho, for a boat ride on the St. Lucie River, never imagining what lurked in the dark waters below.Moments after stepping into the water, an alligator emerged and clamped onto Perren's right arm. 'I was sitting in about two feet of water next to the boat,' Perren said. 'I leaned back to wet my hair in the two feet of water, and as I came up from wetting my hair, that's when the gator got me.'Perren described coming face-to-face with the gator and her fight for survival. 'I saw the gator's head, eye to eye,' Perren said. 'My mind was to get away, get away. I was just punching his head, and I was trying to run.'WATCH: Dr. Amber Perren shares what helped her survive gator attackKelby, who heard the screams, jumped into the water to help his wife.'I pulled her back, the gator pulled back, and I pulled her again, and she came loose,' Kelby said.He rushed his wife to the boat and sped to a nearby dock where first responders were waiting. Perren was taken to the trauma center at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce with multiple lacerations and fractures.'The gator got my arm. It broke both bones in my forearm and severed the radial artery,' Perren said. 'My hand was just hanging.'WATCH: Scripps News Group asks Dr. Amber Perren about the next steps in her recovery journeyAs a result of the attack, Perren has undergone five surgeries and multiple skin grafts and suffered from compartment syndrome due to increased pressure in her arm. Despite her injuries, she returned to work at Amber Eyes Optical — her newly opened eye clinic near Stuart.'I'm not one to sit still, so I immediately have been up trying to walk and move around,' Perren said. 'I'm super athletic, so I think that helps with the recovery.'She is adjusting to working with her left hand, running her business and being a wife.Through it all, Perren credits her family, her community and her husband for keeping her spirits alive.'I keep saying he's my hero, and he saved me,' Perren said.She still faces a long road of recovery with more doctor visits and occupational therapy as she works to regain use of her right arm. Still, she said the attack won't stop her from enjoying the water or her life.'If this showed us anything, it showed us how quickly your life can change in a matter of seconds, so you should go have fun,' Perren said.Her resilience continues to inspire those around her.'She's been optimistic through this whole thing. She's an impressive woman, and I'm lucky to be her husband,' Kelby said.As for the alligator, it was later captured. Perren said she plans to hang its skull in her office.This story was originally published by Ange Toussaint with the Scripps News Group in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Florida Martin County Stuart Treasure Coast WPTV
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Florida vs. Florida FREE LIVE STREAM (9/6/25): Watch college football, Week 2 onlineThe South Florida Bulls face the No. 13 Florida Gators, led by quarterback Tramell Jones Jr., on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.
Read more »
South Florida vs Florida Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today — College Football Week 2Expect both offenses to have a field day for Saturday's pick, odds & expert prediction for South Florida vs. Florida on September 6.
Read more »
South Florida shocks No. 13 Florida with Nico Gramatica’s last-second FGThe Bulls beat the Gators in the Swamp.
Read more »
South Florida Upsets No. 13 Florida After Ill-Timed Penalty for SpittingFlorida defensive lineman Brendan Bett spit in the face of a South Florida offensive lineman with two minutes to play, leading to a game-winning Bulls field goal.
Read more »
Florida player spits on South Florida opponent days after Jalen Carter-Dak Prescott incidentThis college football player got some inspiration from Jalen Carter’s altercation with Dak Prescott — and it might’ve cost his team the win.
Read more »
Florida's Brendan Bett ejected for spitting late in No. 13 Gators' upset loss to South FloridaFlorida defensive lineman Brendan Bett was ejected for spitting at a South Florida player late in the No. 13 Gators’ 18-16 upset loss to South Florida on Saturday night
Read more »