We’re definitely looking at a UFC champion of the future.
James Barney Jr. is no ordinary nine-year-old, having survived a vicious attack from a 400-pound alligator with only minor cuts and bruises.
James was swimming in a restricted part of Lake Tohopekaliga in Florida when he was attacked by the reptile, although he didn’t initially realise what was happening to him.
“It really amazed me what happened,” James said.
“At first I thought someone was just playing with me and I didn’t know what happened.
“I reached down to go grab it and I felt its jaw – I felt its teeth and I didn’t know what to do, so I immediately reacted and hit a couple of times.
“And then finally I had enough strength left to pry its jaw open a little.”
One of the alligator’s teeth was lodged in James’ skin but investigator’s wouldn’t let him keep it.
“The tooth is pretty big. I wanted to keep it but animal control came in and took it so they could find the alligator that attacked me,” he said.
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