Who is Marissa Carr? Florida woman bitten in head by nine-foot alligator while snorkeling in Alexander Springs
ALEXANDER SPRINGS, FLORIDA: In an alarming event that underscores the potential risks of snorkeling in Florida's waters, a young woman named Marissa Carr was assaulted by a nine-foot alligator at the Alexander Springs Recreation Area.
Carr, 20, was unexpectedly attacked on the head by the alligator on Sunday, November 5, while she was snorkeling with her friend Shane. The horrifying incident was documented in photos, which depicted the Florida woman with a bleeding head while the alligator was seen lurking close by.
After the incident, Carr was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to a call they received from the park, as reported by Daily Mail.
An alligator trapper, specializing in dealing with nuisance alligators, was also called to the scene and successfully extracted the 9-foot-long alligator from the waters.
What actually saved the Florida woman from alligator attack?
Carr and her friend were reportedly snorkeling at Alexander Springs, a location favored by divers due to its expansive, fresh spring and unique geological features. She stated that the event unfolded so rapidly that she didn’t initially comprehend that it was an alligator that had attacked her.
"I ripped the mask off and I turn and see the two little eyes sticking out of the water," she told Fox 35. It was only after she emerged from the water that she began to experience pain in her face and neck, as reported by the media outlet.
Carr was donning a full-face snorkel mask at the time of the incident. She believes that the mask, which not only shielded her face but also enlarged the appearance of her head, prevented the alligator from securing a firm hold on her, as per Fox 35's report.
"Sounds bad, but it biting my head is probably the best place that it could have been because like, if it would have got my arm and that it would have got a better grip on my arm and I could have lost my arm or just like my life in general. So like, I think the head he didn't get a good grip of it," she informed the outlet.
"So I think I'm genuinely just really, really lucky," the Florida woman added.
What does USDA Forest Service say about Alexander Springs Recreation Area?
The Alexander Springs Recreation Area is described by the USDA Forest Service as a "naturally gently sloped spring pool with a constant 72°F and extraordinarily clear waters".
Interestingly, it holds the distinction of being the only place in the Ocala National Forest where scuba diving is allowed.
According to the US Forest Service, this incident marks the second alligator-related occurrence at Alexander Springs within a span of less than a week.
How did FWC react to the attack on the Florida woman?
In response to the attack on Carr, the FWC employed a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to capture and remove the alligator.
"The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). The goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur," the FWC stated, per USA TODAY.
The agency reiterated that Florida residents with issues related to alligators can reach out to the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR.