A woman in South Carolina became an unexpected hero when she fought off an alligator that attacked her husband in their backyard, according to local authorities.
Joseph Roeser had been spreading mulch outside their home on Wednesday when an alligator suddenly lunged at him from a nearby pond, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office reported. His wife, Marian, heard his screams and rushed to help.
“I grabbed whatever was closest — a tomato stake — and started hitting the gator in the eyes and head,” Marian told deputies. “I knew I had to protect my husband no matter what.”
Thanks to her swift and fearless reaction, the alligator eventually let go of Joseph. Marian managed to get him inside their home in the Sun City Hilton Head retirement community and immediately called for help.
Emergency personnel arrived shortly after 10 a.m. and found Joseph conscious and responsive. He had sustained bites on his leg and some head abrasions, possibly from falling during the attack. He was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Wildlife officers from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene as well. Because of the reptile’s aggression, officials had no choice but to euthanize and remove it.
The Roesers shared that they’ve always been cautious during outdoor activities, especially given prior sightings of alligators near their pond. Still, they never imagined something like this would happen so close to home.
Authorities reminded residents in coastal communities to stay alert around ponds and lakes, especially during spring and summer when alligators tend to be more active.