A good Florida Man story

[marmar]

A man in Florida rescued his puppy from the jaws of an alligator, diving under the water and wrestling the reptile all without dropping the cigar in his mouth.

Richard Wilbanks, 74, was walking his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Gunner, around the pond near his retirement home in Estero, Florida, when the alligator raced up from the water and grabbed the dog, Wilbanks told CNN.

“It came out of the water like a missile,” he said. “I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was so quick.”

Cameras set up by the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fSTOP Foundation captured the encounter, which shows Wilbanks in the pond, his head submerged as he tries to grab a hold of the alligator. He then emerges holding the reptile, which still has the dog in its jaws. In Wilbank’s jaws is a cigar – which he never drops. ............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/23/man-rescues-puppy-from-alligator-without-dropping-cigar

[okaawhatever]

1. Finally Florida Man steps up. nt

[Mariana]

2. How long has this person lived in Florida?

“It came out of the water like a missile,” he said. “I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was so quick.”

Yes, that's what alligators do. That's why you keep your dog away from the water when you're in Florida.

I'm glad he was able to save the poor dog.