Woman feels lucky to be alive after a dip in her local river ended in brutal alligator attack

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

Florida-based Rachel Thompson made her way down to the Hillsborough River during her regular morning routine, where she also jogs and does some yoga.

While taking a dip in the river though, she said that she saw the alligator, which attacked her instantly.

Along with Louisiana, Florida is one of two states that boast the highest alligator populations in the US, increasing the chances of attacks like this one.

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

The story follows a number of previous alligator stories in the state, including one man whose attack was caught on a drone camera, somehow surviving.

It looks like Thompson is just the latest victim in a long line, further explaining what happened to her in great detail.

"The moment that I saw his head, it was just a fraction of a second from me seeing his head and him grabbing my leg," she said.

Thompson detailed that she fought back, attempting to punch the reptile with a rock to try and stop it, according to The Daily Mail, before she made a lucky escape as the alligator continued to attack her.

Speaking to Bay News 9, she said: "I realised as hard as I was trying to pull I was losing ground,

"He was managing to still gain ground and gradually pull me further toward the center of the river toward deeper water.

"In desperation, I just reached my hands to either side of his jaws and I pried them open."

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

Thompson was later found by a neighbour and her son, who took her to a nearby hospital, with doctors saying that her leg was in a bad condition and could potentially be infected.

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

Following the incident, an investigation into the attack has began by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

They have detailed that it is extremely rare for an alligator to choose to attack a human or pose a real threat, as per The Daily Mail.

The commission added that most attacks tend to happen 'when people do not pay close attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water'.

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