A quiet Friday night of backyard fishing in North Fort Myers turned into a full-on fight for survival when, according to 71-year-old resident James Grayson McMicken, an alligator lunged out of the canal behind his home and clamped down on his right leg. McMicken says the gator dragged him into the water until he jabbed one eye with his thumb, then repeatedly stabbed the other with his fishing pole, finally forcing the reptile to let go.
He was taken to a Cape Coral hospital, where he received staples and stitches. McMicken is now back home, recovering and starting physical therapy after the late-night attack.
According to FOX5, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said officers and a state-contracted nuisance alligator trapper responded to the scene, and trapping efforts were still underway. The FOX5 report notes that WINK, via CNN Newsource, conducted the original on-camera interview with McMicken.
How He Fought Back
Speaking with Local10, McMicken described the split-second decision-making that kicked in while he was in the water. He said he jammed his thumb into one of the gator’s eyes, then started jabbing the other eye with his fishing pole until the animal finally released his leg…