A 71-year-old Florida man has recounted his harrowing experience of fighting off an alligator that attacked him in the canal behind his Fort Myers home. James Grayson McMicken was fishing one evening when the alligator suddenly emerged from the water, latched onto his right leg, and began dragging him into the canal.
McMicken described his struggle for survival, stating he was determined not to die. He fought back by jabbing the alligator's eyes with his thumb and repeatedly using his fishing pole to poke its eyes. The tactic proved effective, and the alligator eventually released its grip.
"I've always heard that if you got no other choice, hit them eyes. And that's what got him off of me," McMicken said.
His bulldog, present during the attack, helped him get to his feet so he could return to his house. His wife attended to his injuries before he was transported to a local hospital by his family. McMicken noted the attention he received from nurses due to his unusual encounter. The alligator involved in the incident has not been located.
McMicken is recovering and plans to resume fishing, though he stated he would avoid fishing at night near the water's edge. Crocodile expert Rosie Moore has discussed a potential increase in alligator encounters, possibly linked to drought conditions. This incident comes amidst reports of a rise in Florida alligator attacks.