The viral footage is authentic and documents an incident involving Florida resident Richard Wilbanks and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, Gunner. On October 25, 2020, Wilbanks was walking near a pond in Estero, Florida, when an alligator suddenly grabbed the puppy and carried him into the water.
Wilbanks immediately entered the pond and caught the alligator. Wildlife cameras recorded him bringing the animal toward the bank while Gunner remained in its jaws, creating footage that later spread widely online.
Richard Wilbanks reacted almost instantly
Wilbanks was 74 years old when the encounter occurred. He later explained that he heard Gunner yelp, turned around, and saw the alligator swimming away with his puppy, prompting him to enter the water without much hesitation.
Reports differ slightly on Gunner’s exact age, describing him as roughly 2 to 3 months old, but they agree that Wilbanks had owned him for only about a week. Gunner was a very small puppy facing an alligator capable of overpowering him easily.
He physically opened the alligator’s jaws
The most remarkable part of the footage is genuine. Wilbanks managed to restrain the alligator near the edge of the pond and force its jaws apart sufficiently for Gunner to escape.
The puppy immediately moved away after being released. Wilbanks then had to get his own hands clear of the animal, and reports said his hands were injured during the encounter.
Gunner survived with relatively minor injuries
Despite being dragged into the water, Gunner survived. Veterinarians found a small puncture wound around his abdomen, and one report said X-rays also showed some water in his lungs, but he recovered after receiving veterinary treatment.
Wilbanks also received medical attention after suffering injuries to his hands. He later received a tetanus shot, while subsequent interviews reported that both Wilbanks and Gunner were doing well.
Wildlife cameras captured everything
The dramatic footage was not originally recorded for a staged animal video. Cameras associated with the Florida Wildlife Federation and fSTOP Foundation had been positioned in the area to document wildlife activity.
That explains the fixed camera angle and why the entire encounter happened naturally within the frame. Wildlife Federation personnel later discovered the attack while reviewing material recorded by the camera.
Gunner later became a Deputy Dog
The story gained another unusual chapter after Gunner recovered. In December 2020, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office made him part of its Deputy Dogs program, which was used to help teach children about safety.
Gunner appeared at a ceremony with Wilbanks and received his honorary role only weeks after the rescue became famous. The Sheriff’s Office used his story as an opportunity to promote awareness and safety around local wildlife.
The camera captured every second
The rescue was captured by wildlife cameras installed through a project involving the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fSTOP Foundation. The cameras were intended to document how people and wildlife share the same landscape, making the dramatic encounter an unexpected recording.
Wilbanks later said his reaction was instinctive. After seeing the footage, he was surprised to discover that he had kept his cigar in his mouth throughout much of the rescue, even while struggling to free Gunner from the alligator.
Featured Image: Photo by Elianna Gill on Unsplash
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