James Barney Jr is from East Lake Tohopekaliga and being called a super hero after using his strength to fight off an alligator.

 

 

Speaking to members of the press from his bed in Arnold Palmer Hospital, in Orlando, James said at first he thought it was just someone playing with him.

I reached down to grab it and I felt its jaw, its teeth and I didn’t know what to do so I immediately reacted and hit it a couple of times.

It then let go a little, finally I had enough strength left to pry its jaw open a little and it was slipping and that’s how I got the scratches.

Then it finally let go and I swam to shore while yelling ‘help’ and finally some people came over and pulled me in.