Coach recounts harrowing alligator attack during triathlon training swim
"I'm feeling grateful that it wasn't worse," he said.
A coach says he's grateful to have escaped without severe injuries after getting attacked by an alligator while leading a triathlon training swim in South Carolina.
Jonathan Bruney took a group on Sunday to the Savannah River in Aiken County, near Augusta, Georgia, where they "got suited up in our triathlon suits, put on our swim safety buoys, and I was the first one to jump in the water," he told ABC News.
Bruney said he was swimming when he felt a large impact on his right side and pain in his elbow, and he assumed he struck a log.
"I looked at my arm -- I could see the gator's left front foot and its head," he said. "All these thoughts went through my mind about, 'OK, what if he shakes his head or pulls me pretty far underwater?' So I punched him twice with my left hand, and then pretty much just put that hand on the snout, went up to the eyeballs and pressed into its left eye with my thumb, hoping that would help him release."
"He released right away," Bruney continued. "I pushed off to create some space there, and immediately looked back to my athlete, Jared, who was right behind me, and yelled, 'Get to the docks! Get to the docks!'"
All of the athletes swam to safety, and as Bruney followed, he said he hoped the gator wouldn't grab hold of his legs.
Once on shore, Bruney said another quick-thinking athlete cut off his own swim buoy and wrapped it around the large wound on his arm to slow the bleeding.
Bruney said he received stitches at the hospital and was soon discharged.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources confirmed a person was bitten by an alligator while swimming in the Savannah River and said wildlife biologists and law enforcement responded to the scene.
"SCDNR encourages the public to exercise caution around alligators and other wildlife," the agency said. "... People can help reduce the potential for conflicts by never feeding alligators or other wildlife and by remaining alert and aware when enjoying our natural areas."
Looking back, Bruney said, "I'm feeling grateful that it wasn't worse."
Bruney said he'd advise others confronted by a gator to "stay as calm as they can, not panic or scream, but be resourceful and take quick action."
He also stressed to "make sure that you're never swimming alone."
"We had scanned the river, we had gotten on top of the bridges and looked in the water, we were wearing safety swim buoys, we had multiple people along the course ... make sure you're very observant about the surroundings," he said.
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