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St. Lucie County, FL - A Florida doctor survived an alligator attack this summer while taking a boat ride with her husband and dog on the St. Lucie River.
Dr. Amber Perren, 27, said she was in about two feet of water leaning back to wet her hair when an 8-foot alligator allegedly clamped onto her right arm.
“I saw the gator’s head, eye to eye. My mind was to get away. I was just punching its head and trying to run,” she recalled.
Her husband, Kelby Perren, heard her screams and jumped into the water to pull her free.
The couple reached a nearby dock where first responders transported Dr. Perren to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.
She suffered multiple lacerations and fractures, including a broken forearm and a severed radial artery.
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Since the attack, Perren has undergone five surgeries, multiple skin grafts, and treatment for compartment syndrome caused by increased pressure in her arm.
Despite her injuries, she returned to work at Amber Eyes Optical, her newly opened eye clinic near Stuart, adapting to using her left hand while managing her business.
Perren credited her husband, family, and community for supporting her recovery.
She continues occupational therapy and doctor visits while working to regain full use of her right arm.
She said the attack will not stop her from enjoying life or water activities.
The alligator involved in the incident was later captured, and Perren plans to display its skull in her office as a reminder of the encounter.