Last week, an 84-year-old Florida woman saved her own life by punching an aggressive alligator in the face.
Dolores Boeppel, 84, of North Fort Myers, was out walking her dog Thursday evening when she encountered the alligator, and as soon as the alligator started to lunge at her, she threw her Shih Tzu into the air.
She told local outlet WBBH that she caught the alligator by surprise, punching it and biting its legs and toes before sending it fleeing. The Lee County Sheriff's Office shared body camera footage of the attack with Fox News Digital.
“She was walking her dog here. [sic] “He ran towards her full speed,” a witness says in the video, “and she threw the dog away and saved her own dog.”
Florida man suffers partial arm amputation after being bitten by 'highly unusual' alligator attack
Dolores Boeppel, 84, of North Fort Myers, survived an alligator attack last week. (Lee County Sheriff's Office/iStock)
Another witness said he heard Mr Boeppel screaming and ran over.
“I opened the window to get some heat out and I heard someone screaming,” the woman explained. “I ran to the sliding glass door and saw her crawl out, screaming and waving. That's all I saw. Alligators are in my backyard all the time.”
“I checked her dog,” she added. “There was definitely dog blood on it, but I think it was her blood.”
The footage shows Boppel in good spirits and alert while medical professionals tended to him.
“May God bless you, ma'am,” Boeppel told the paramedic, “the park is going to pay for this motherfucker.”
Newly released body camera footage reveals the aftermath of Florida woman's fatal alligator attack
Boppel's fingers and feet were bitten by the crocodile, which was later captured. (Lee County Sheriff's Office)
Boeppel told WBBH she was walking through a pond near her mobile home park when she suddenly felt uneasy.
“I suddenly had a premonition,” the man in his 80s said. “I was like, 'Oh no.'”
“It was like a torpedo,” Boeppel said of the alligator. “I've never seen anything move that fast in my life.”
The 84-year-old told WBBH that after she is released from the hospital, she looks forward to being reunited with her dog, Queen, who has survived the ordeal.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital and identified the creature as a 7-foot, 3-inch-long alligator.
“FWC, Lee County Sheriff's Office and Lee County EMS responded to the scene and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper captured the alligator, measuring 7 feet, 3 inches in length,” FWC explained. “The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.”
Mr Boppel was conscious and alert when paramedics treated him after the attack. (Lee County Sheriff's Office)
Click here to get the FOX News app
The department added that alligators in Florida rarely cause serious injuries to humans and recommends Florida residents take certain measures to avoid contact with alligators, such as keeping pets out of the water and only swimming in designated areas during the day.
