A triathlon coach successfully defended himself against an alligator attack while participating in a race rehearsal in the Savannah River near Augusta, Georgia. Jonathan Bruney, 31, was swimming with a group of athletes on Sunday when he felt a sudden impact on his right arm.
Initially mistaking the sensation for hitting a log, Bruney soon experienced a sharp, cold pain and saw a four-to-five-foot alligator with its jaws clamped around his arm. Recounting the event, Bruney stated his immediate thought was to prevent the alligator from initiating a "death roll," which could have caused further injury.
In a desperate act, Bruney grabbed the alligator by its head and forced his thumb into its eye, causing the animal to release its grip. He told WRDW that he knew targeting the eyes was the best course of action. After freeing himself, he sought medical attention for his injuries.