The dramatic confrontation took place in Estero, Florida in November 2020. Richard Wilbanks, 74, was walking his three-month-old puppy, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Gunner, in his backyard pond when the accident happened. A crocodile appeared seemingly out of nowhere and grabbed Gunner with its mouth and quickly pulled him into the water.
Without wasting a moment, Wilbanks jumped straight into the water and grabbed the alligator by the jaw, which still carried Gunner inside. Wilbanks carried the crocodile to the edge of the pond while constantly thrashing with its jaw, and managed to open it just enough for Gunner to jump onto the grass.
Unsurprisingly, Gunner fled as fast as he could once he was safe on Earth. Wilbanks told the incredible story to CNN:
“We were outside walking by the pool and shooting out of the water like a rocket. I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was that fast.”
Adrenaline or instinct must have started, Wilbanks said:
“I spontaneously jumped into the water.”
He further explained that catching the crocodile wasn’t that difficult but opening its jaws was “extremely difficult”, leaving its hands “chewed up” after the whole ordeal. After that, he went to get tetanus shot from the doctor just for his own safety. Meanwhile, Gunner survived a stomach puncture but was fine after visiting the vet.
Organizations working to protect wild habitats are extremely important, not only to preserve these areas and the animals that live there, but also to ensure the safety of human interactions in these places.
