This brave man jumped into the pond and pried open an alligator's mouth to save his beloved pooch. The video was captured on camera and now the man is hailed as a hero with his swift thinking and timely actions.
Anyone who has a pet will know how dear these tiny little creatures are to us. They are like our family, and bearing with their loss is one of the most difficult things in the world. This Florida man jumped into the pond and risked his own life to save his puppy from an alligator's mouth.
Richard Wilbanks swung into action, jumping into the pond and prizing the huge gator’s mouth wide open in a desperate attempt to save his beloved pet, Gunner.
The whole dramatic incident was captured on camera and Richard's commendable action shows what benefit quick thinking makes as he managed to free the tiny pooch from its jaws.
‘We were just out walking by the pond and it came out of the water like a missile,’ Wilbanks told CNN, describing the moment the gator shot out of the water and went straight for Gunner.
‘I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was so quick.’
Fortunately, thanks to the dog owner’s sheer adrenaline and determination, the puppy managed to escape with no serious injuries.
‘They’re like children to us, so there was no second thought whatsoever,’ Wilbanks explained. ‘He had one little puncture wound, and my hands were just chewed up.’
Richard actually feels grateful that he was there at the time of the incident that he was able to save his dear dog.
‘Fortunately, I was in a position that I was able to save Gunner’s life,’ he said.
The video clip has since been shared with the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fSTOP Foundation, in a bid to educate people about how best to live alongside the wildlife in the state.
We live on a shared landscape. We don’t just want to tolerate wildlife, but, rather, we want to thrive with wildlife on a shared landscape.
‘It gives us a new appreciation. We do need to be aware they are wild animals. They’re not here for our benefit. We’re very luck to share this space with them,’ said Louise Wilbank, Richard’s wife.