Elderly woman, 82, describes horrifying moment 8ft alligator dragged her into the water, bit down on her legs and rolled her as she walked her dog Lulu - before she poked it in the eye and miraculously survived

An 82-year-old woman has revealed the horror of being attacked by an 8ft alligator who dragged her the into the water before she miraculously escaped.

Elsie Kyle was walking her chihuaua-dachshund dog Lulu in September 2021 near her home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when a huge alligator suddenly snapped at her legs.

‘I tried to run away but I lost my footing. The gator leapt out of the water and bit down across my legs. That was the first bite. I was in so much shock, I didn’t feel any pain. It sounded like a massive crack’, she told the Telegraph.

Mrs Kyle described how when the alligator performed the death roll – a hunting tactic to disorientate and drown prey – she poked her finger in its eye.

Luckily, her neighbors Mary Montour and Layne Carver heard her cries and rushed to rescue her.

Mrs Montour said she ran outside, adding ‘I thought she fell in but as I’m pulling her she started screaming “an alligator is biting my leg off”,’ she told Hilton Head Monthly.

As Mrs Montour pulled at Mrs Kyle’s arms, Mr Carver ran over to help and hit the predator over the head three times with a spade.

Mr Carver said the gator ‘had her pretty good’ but he hit it as hard as he could to knock it out.

Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue and local police officers rushed to the scene at 8.19am. The gator was removed from the area and enthanized. Mrs Kyle’s dog was not harmed.

Elsie Kyle was walking her chihuaua-dachshund dog Lulu in September 2021 near her home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when a huge alligator suddenly grabbed her

Mrs Kyle described how when the alligator performed the death roll - a hunting tactic to disorientate and drown prey - she poked her finger in its eye — Mrs Kyle described how when the alligator performed the death roll – a hunting tactic to disorientate and drown prey – she poked her finger in its eye

Mrs Kyle was walking her dog Lulu in September 2021 near her home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when a huge alligator snapped at her legs. File image

Mrs Kyle has lived in Hilton Head Island for 28 years. Pictured is a marina

Mrs Kyle was rushed to hospital, where she underwent several reconstructive surgeries to fit metal rods in her legs and doctors performed a skin graft. Despite being lucky to have recovered, she can no longer walk unaided.

‘I can’t even begin to tell you what I’ve gone through. The gator didn’t kill me, but he certainly took away what I had left of a normal life,’ she told the Telegraph.

‘The orthopedic surgeon thought he might have to remove my legs but said I was an 80-year-old miracle,’ she told the Hilton paper.

Mrs Kyle, who has lived in Hilton Head Island for 28 years, is now assisted by her daughter Maria who cares for her everyday needs.

This article by Olivia Jones was first published by The Daily Mail on 10 July 2023. Lead Image: Mrs Kyle was walking her dog Lulu in September 2021 near her home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when a huge alligator snapped at her legs. File image.

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