Mark Johnson, 61, and his golden retriever, Rex, were out walking in Port St. Lucie, FL, last week when Johnson spotted a gator in the nearby canal eyeing them. It charged. He quickly shouted at his dog, commanding Rex to run home.
Rex promptly obeyed, but Mark's shoe — ironically, a Croc — got caught in the mud, thwarting his getaway.
Within seconds, the 8.5' gator was upon him, latching onto his leg, and dragging him toward the water.
"I stepped down onto the mud bank and yelled at Rex to get on home. He left immediately, but my Croc got stuck in the mud. As I tried to wiggle it free, I saw the gator lunge out of the water and seize onto the back of my right knee."
Johnson knew he could never have the strength to pry open its mouth, and likewise knew he'd never survive the gator's death roll if he succeeded in submerging him in the water. But a cool head prevailed.
Johnson rammed his index finger in the gator's eye, tearing the flesh of his finger on the sharp edges of its eye socket. Shocked, the gator loosened his grip and pulled away, giving Johnson time to make a break for it.
With wounds gaping and bloody, Johnson put his Crocs to work, limping home where his wife dressed his wounds and rushed him to the hospital.
It took more than 60 stitches to close the 12 puncture wounds on his leg, and another 5 stitches to close the wound on his index finger.
In an epic battle between Crocs and gators, the gator almost won.
Johnson plans to carry a weapon on future walks.
