An elderly fisherman in Florida has revealed how he survived a near-fatal alligator attack by jabbing the reptile in the eyes, then using his dog to get to his feet and stagger home for help. James Grayson McMicken, 71, was fishing in a canal behind his home in North Fort Myers on July 3 when the attack occurred.
Attack and Survival
McMicken had barely cast his fishing rod before the alligator struck. 'I started reeling and it jumped out of the water and grabbed me,' he told local news channel WPEC Florida. Quick thinking saved him from being dragged into the water. 'I stuck my thumb in one eye, and I just took that fishing pole and jabbed him in the other eye and jabbed him and jabbed him and jabbed him,' he explained. 'It seemed like forever, but it wasn't that long. But then, he turned loose.' He added: 'I've always heard that if you've got no other choice, get them eyes, and that's what got him off of me.'
Dog Helps Victim Stand
The attack left McMicken with deep bite wounds on his right leg. Unable to crawl far, he called his bulldog. 'She stood there and let me get up on her back to where I could get stood up,' he said. He staggered home, exhausted, and received help from his wife. He was treated with stitches and staples and is now recovering at home, awaiting physical therapy. Despite the ordeal, he hopes to return to fishing soon. 'No gator is going to run me off,' he said.
Recent Alligator Incidents in Florida
McMicken's attack comes days after a woman was killed by an alligator in Seminole County. Brittany Clark, 31, was hiking with her boyfriend and best friend when she waded into the Econlockhatchee River in Little Big Econ state forest. An alligator bit her arms, tearing off one and mauling the other. Her boyfriend Chance Allison tried to fight off the 12-foot crocodilian, but it snatched them into a death roll. Clark was pronounced dead before reaching hospital. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) called the incident 'incredibly tragic.' FWC public information officer Chad Weber said factors could include low water levels and the end of mating season, making alligators territorial.
On the same day, an 11-year-old boy on holiday with his father was bitten on the hand by an alligator while fishing at Nelson Fish Camp in Marion County. The New York Post reported that Brodie Terry lost a hand in the attack.
Alligator Attack Statistics
Despite these incidents, alligator attacks on humans in Florida remain rare. The state is home to about 1.3 million alligators across all 67 counties. The FWC has recorded around 500 unprovoked bites since 1948, with only 32 proving fatal as of 2026. However, Weber warned that any body of water could have an alligator. 'There is some risk when you swim,' he said.
