Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Florida Man, 71, Fends Off Alligator With Fishing Pole After Leg Bite
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 8

Florida Man, 71, Fends Off Alligator With Fishing Pole After Leg Bite

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 8

Summary

  • James Grayson McMicken, 71, said an alligator lunged from a backyard canal in Fort Myers, bit his right leg and dragged him into the water while he was fishing at night.
  • McMicken said he forced the animal off by jabbing one eye with his thumb and the other with his fishing pole, following advice to target a gator’s eyes.
  • His bulldog helped him back to the house, where he later passed out and was taken to a nearby hospital; he is now recovering.
  • The alligator has not been located, but McMicken said he plans to fish again—just not at night near the water’s edge.

Insights

A 71-year-old fought off an alligator. Was it luck or a survival lesson for everyone?
Amid a fatal summer, what is causing Florida's sudden surge in alligator attacks?