'Hero' retiree turns 'Florida man' trope on its head with incredible rescue of puppy from gator's jaw

'Hero' retiree turns 'Florida man' trope on its head with incredible rescue of puppy from gator's jaw
Image via Screengrba.
Elizabeth Preza
November 22, 2020Push Notification

While a certain Florida man plots how to squat in the White House long past his unceremonious eviction, a venerable Floridian hero is reshaping what it means to be a "Florida man" after surveillance cameras caught him on-tape rescuing his puppy from the jaws of an alligator.



AS CBS Miami reports, Richard Wilbanks, a retiree, wrestled the alligator in his backyard ponds after the reptile snatched up his 3-month-old puppy Gunner.

"We were just out walking by the pond, and it came out of the water like a missile," Wilbanks told CNN. "I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was so quick."

"I just automatically jumped into the water," Wilbanks said of the rescue.

In addition to single-handedly prying open the gator's mouth to free his puppy's leg, observers note that this gentleman is likewise single-handedly redefining what it means to be a "Florida man." Some are also pointing out that this Florida man completed his heroic feat without even dropping his cigar.

Check out some responses below. And learn from Wilkens, who now walks Gunner on a leash, at least 10 feet from the pond's edge.











From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Report typos and corrections to: feedback@alternet.org.

Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

Understand the importance of honest news ?

So do we.

The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be catastrophic not only to our health - mental and physical - but also to the stability of millions of people. For all of us independent news organizations, it’s no exception.

We’ve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support. We’ve always understood the importance of calling out corruption, regardless of political affiliation.

We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference in allowing our newsroom to bring you the stories that matter, at a time when being informed is more important than ever. Invest with us.

Make a one-time contribution to Alternet All Access, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

Click to donate by check.

DonateDonate by credit card
Donate by Paypal
{{ post.roar_specific_data.api_data.analytics }}
@2022 - AlterNet Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. - "Poynter" fonts provided by fontsempire.com.