Southwest Florida Man Survives Gator Attack Thanks To His Neighbors

A Southwest Florida man is alive following a gator attack in North Naples. He has his neighbors to thank for it.

It's always good to have good neighbors. Not just the kind who will lend you sugar when you're in need or the type who don't hassle you about your lawn. No, good neighbors like the kinds who will literally save your life from a gator attack. Do you think your neighbors are capable of doing that? It would certainly create a special bond if it happened and that appears to be the case here. If his neighbors hadn't seen it happening, Rick Fingeret would probably no longer be with us. It's good to be alert at all times, especially when you live somewhere with a deadly predator like alligators.

Fingeret, of North Naples, tells Naples Daily News, "I looked up and I saw this thing coming after us with its mouth open. You don't want to ever see that." That's when the alligator reportedly bit down on his right leg and wouldn't let go. He was being attacked for several terrifying minutes before his neighbors saw him on the ground waving and yelling, per Naples Daily News. You would certainly think this was the end for you after going through a gator attack for several minutes. However, the neighbors were able to approach and intervene saving Fingeret.

Now, he's nominated his neighbors, Walt Rudder and Paula Keegan, to win tickets to see comedian Jay Leno. They won the tickets and went to his show and meet-and-greet that happened on February 6th, per Naples Daily News. That moment turned neighbors into close friends. He says he wouldn't be alive without them.

It sounds like he was walking his dogs around 8:30pm when it happened. It was getting dark but there were street lights that lit up the road he was on and by the time he noticed his dogs get tense it was too late and the gator was on its way. Thankfully, the dogs were able to get away unharmed and the neighbors were able to get Fingeret to safety as well. It sounds like he had a nasty injury from the gator attack but is expected to be okay.

You can find more details on this crazy story from the Naples Daily News here.

Oh, America the beautiful. Across our wonderful continent of North America you'll find amazing, adorable animals. However, you'll also find creatures that are incredibly dangerous. Here are 5 animals in North America that could kill you.

Now, just because they can kill you doesn't mean they're out to do it. Yet, it means they have the possibility of doing so! So, it's best to be aware!

Well, some of these animals you're probably already well aware could kill you. However, some of these animals you might not know can kill you. Or, maybe you don't know they're actually around! Hey, like NBC used to say, "The More You Know."

Naturally, there are many more than 5 animals in North America capable of killing you. There are countless. Some may be big powerful animals. Others may be poisonous. It's important to know what's out there. These animals could be lurking in your basement. They could be outside your home. Or, they could be all the way across the country from you and pose absolutely no risk of danger or harm.

Of course, when you only select five animals to talk about, you're leaving a lot on the cutting room floor. So, you won't hear about any sharks on the list. We know they can kill you. Additionally, jaguars, mountain lions, and American Bison didn't make the list. That's right. Bison can kill you, and they have! Not only are Bison huge animals, but they also have horns! Several ways they can take you out. It's not just limited to a stampede.

Furthermore, I'm counting an "animal" as anything in the Animal Kingdom. They may be reptiles, amphibians, insects, and more. I'm counting them all as animals. I don't want to hear that "technically, arachnids aren't animals" or anything. Let's just relax and have fun.

Grizzly Bears are incredibly dangerous! They're also massive. They have sharp claws. Additionally, they have very sharp teeth and brute strength. There is no shortage in the ways a Grizzly could kill you. They're very popular up in Alaska and Western Canada.

Alligators are dangerous animals. They're ancient, smart, and deadly. According to USA Today, alligators have been responsible for 33 human deaths in the last 50 years. Not a great way to go. They're quicker than you'd think. Then, sneaky, too! Uh oh.

These small light brown scorpions are deadly! They have venom that is painful and potentially deadly. You don't want to be stung by one of these. Note that they are nocturnal and are common in southern California, southern Arizona, southern Nevada, and parts of Utah and New Mexico. Black lights can help you spot them at night.

This species of rattlesnake is endemic to the Southeastern United States. Of course, there are other common rattlesnakes found across the country that are also deadly. They like to live in upland dry pine forests, flatwoods, sandhills, and coastal maritime hammocks. Also, they are excellent swimmers! So, don't try to get away by swimming. They'll catch you! It's said to be the most dangerous venomous snake in all of North America.

The Brown Recluse Spider has necrotic venom. Their bites will often require medical attention. It is one of three spiders in North America with dangerous venom along with the Black Widow and Chilean Recluse. They're mostly found in the Central United States. They are very dangerous and harmful to the older community and younger individuals. They're typically between 6 and 20 millimeters.

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