State wildlife officials said an 84-year-old woman who had her arm ripped off by an alligator spent Friday afternoon in surgery.

The attack happened Wednesday behind Carol Hough’s Leesburg home. A neighbor heard Hough yelling for help around 7 a.m.

Del Zickefoose said he called 911 as he ran outside, then jumped into the water to save her.

"I went in the water and just got her back to shore here and just held her in my arms. And she was alert, but her arm was gone all the way up to here," said Zickefoose, touching his arm above his elbow.

Hough underwent surgery about 1 p.m. and is in the Intensive Care Unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

The gator that attacked Hough was reportedly 6 to 8 feet long. Wildlife officials said they believe they found and killed the alligator that's responsible.