- Video shows the moment a jump from a rope swing ended next to an alligator
- But the jumper was oblivious to the encounter in Florida’s Loxahatchee River
- It was only when a friend reviewed the footage they saw the reptile under water
- The clip shows just how close the reveller was to landing on the allegator’s head
This is the moment a rope-swinger had a close encounter with an alligator – without even realising it was there.
Footage filmed from a body camera shows a 21-year-old Cody swinging from a rope about the Loxahatchee River in Florida.
But seven seconds into the short clip, the reptile can be seen casually passing the jumper after he lands.
Footage filmed from a body camera shows a 21-year-old Cody swinging from a rope about the Loxahatchee River in Florida. But seven seconds into the short clip, the reptile can be seen casually passing the jumper after he lands
As Cody hits the water, the man is oblivious to the alligator’s presence – almost stepping onto it as a result.
It was only when his 20-year-old college friend Dave Salem reviewed the video at home that he realised his friend had come so close to the creature while they enjoyed a summer break in May this year.
‘We didn’t notice the gator until later that day looking at the footage, we couldn’t believe it that he was so close to an alligator,’ he said.
‘Once I sent it to him he was freaking out and saying he’ll probably never swim in there again.’
It was only when his 20-year-old college friend Dave Salem reviewed the video at home that he realised his friend had come so close to the creature while they enjoyed a summer break in May this year
‘We didn’t notice the gator until later that day looking at the footage, we couldn’t believe it that he was so close to an alligator,’ he said
His three friends were equally unaware of the danger, as they can be seen relaxing on small boats while the reptile wriggles underneath
Video showing his friend swimming to the riverbank suggests the camera is place on the jumper’s head, which means he probably had his eyes closed when he landed and missed the alligator altogether.
His three friends were equally unaware of the danger, as they can be seen relaxing on small boats while the reptile wriggles underneath.
From 1948 to 2016, 23 people were killed by alligators in Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel.