Man, 75, survives alligator attack on golf course

• By Ryan Ballengee
• May 2, 2012 1:58 PM ET

A 75-year-old Lake Wales, Fla., man was attacked by an alligator last Wednesday at Lake Ashton Golf and Country Club, according to the Lakeland Ledger.

Albert Miller pulled his approach shot at the 15th hole into a water hazard near the green. Looking for his ball in the clear water, Miller could not find his but saw two others. Turning to leave, a 9-foot, 190-pound alligator attacked Miller from underneath the surface of the water. The alligator grabbed Miller by his left knee.

"He lifted me up 3 feet and slammed me down," Miller said.

As the three other players in Miller's group came to grab Miller and prevent the gator from dragging him into the water, the gator clamped down harder. Just as Miller was about to be completely submerged in the water, the gator let go.

"I was 3 feet from my life," Miller said. "He had me submerged up to my belt buckle. That was my miracle of the month."

Miller was put into a golf cart and driven to the clubhouse to meet an ambulance. He was treated for a 10-inch lance wound and a pair of 5-inch wounds with 35-40 stitches. Swelling in the knee joint has prevented doctors from evaluating the health of his knee capsule or other injuries with the joint.

Now recovering, Miller has seen enough alligators for a lifetime.

"You'll never get me to look at a gator," Miller said, "touch a gator or eat a gator."