A triathlete in South Carolina narrowly escaped a harrowing alligator attack while training for an upcoming Ironman competition. Jonathan Bruney, 31, was swimming in the Savannah River on Sunday when a large alligator latched onto his right arm.
Bruney initially mistook the impact for hitting a log, but the pain that followed indicated a more serious encounter. "Out of nowhere, it hit me," Bruney told WRDW. "It was a pretty big impact to my right side… it felt as if my elbow had made a hard impact, maybe like diving on a gym basketball court."
Recalling a known weak spot on alligators, Bruney acted instinctively. "I just knew the eyes were what you should target," he explained. "I put my hand on the snout, reached up, and pushed my thumb into his eyeball, and he released."
After freeing himself from the alligator's grasp, Bruney was bleeding significantly. A fellow triathlete and first responder, Matthew Davis, used a cord from his swim buoy as a makeshift tourniquet until emergency services arrived. Bruney was transported to a local hospital, where doctors determined his injuries were treatable and not expected to cause long-term damage.
Despite the traumatic experience, Bruney stated he does not fear the water and still intends to compete in his scheduled Ironman triathlon next month, though he now holds a "healthy respect" for the river.