The dramatic scene unfolded during a 5-year-old’s birthday party at Scales & Tails Utah.
A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free her from its jaws. The dramatic scene, which was captured on video, unfolded during a 5-year-old’s birthday party, CBS affiliate KUTV reports. Video taken by a guest shows an unidentified handler at Scales & Tails Utah, in suburban Salt Lake City, talking to some adults and children about the alligator Saturday when it bit her hand and dragged her into the water. Shane Richins, the company’s owner, said in an interview Monday that the handler was opening the enclosure to feed the 8-foot gator named “Darth Gator” as usual, but this time the reptile “got a little extra spunky.” Richins told KUTV that while the handler’s hand was in the gator’s mouth, she knew she should move with him in the water. It was the only way to ensure the gator wouldn’t rip-off her arm He said the center normally has a strict policy for a second handler to be nearby when employees are working with the alligators.
