A woman’s arm has been severed after she was attacked by an alligator while swimming.

Members of a Chabad group in Orlando, Florida, were asked to pray for community member Rachael Lilienthal after she underwent surgery for her injuries following the incident on Saturday.

A special minyan was held in her honour the following day.

The 37-year-old was bitten by the nine-foot-long animal at least twice and her right arm was severed above the elbow while she was swimming in Wekiva River, north of the city.

Canoeists managed to save her by hitting the 22-stone alligator with one of their paddles before calling emergency services.

Jakob Frick, who was canoeing nearby, said: “We see the jaws just chomp down on her arm, and it starts spinning around, pulls her underwater, goes back up. She’s just screaming.”

The alligator was later caught and shot.