Woman is glad to be alive after a swim in the river near her ended in a brutal alligator attack

A woman has shared her story, explaining how lucky she is to be alive after being attacked by an alligator near her home.

Florida resident Rachel Thompson headed to the Hillsborough River as part of her normal morning routine, where she also jogs and does a little yoga.

However, she said that while bathing in the river, she saw the alligator, which immediately attacked her.

Florida is one of the two states, along with Louisiana, with the highest alligator population in the United States, increasing the likelihood of attacks like this one.

Rachel Thompson said she was attacked by an alligator near her home. (Spectrum News)

The story joins a number of previous alligator stories from the state, including that of a man whose attack was recorded by a drone and who somehow survived.

It appears that Thompson is just the latest victim in a long line, which explains in great detail what happened to her.

“From the moment I saw his head, it was only a split second before he grabbed my leg while I saw his head,” she said.

According to the Daily Mail, Thompson described how she fought back and tried to hit the reptile with a rock to stop it before she was lucky to escape as the alligator continued to attack her.

Speaking to Bay News 9, she said: “I realized that no matter how hard I tried to lose ground,

“He managed to keep gaining ground and gradually pull me further towards the middle of the river and into deeper water.

“In my desperation, I simply reached out my hands on either side of his jaw and forced it open.”

Her leg was seriously injured. (Spectrum News/Rachel Thompson)

Thompson was later found by a neighbor and her son, who took her to a nearby hospital. Doctors said her leg was in poor condition and could possibly be infected.

To avoid this risk, she underwent surgery on her leg, which unfortunately is still at risk of infection, but she explained that she is lucky to still be alive despite everything.

Following the incident, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation into the attack.

According to the Daily Mail, it is extremely rare for an alligator to attack a human or pose a real threat.

The commission added that most attacks occurred “when people are not paying attention to their surroundings while working or recreationing near water.”

LADbible has contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for comment.