A pair of Florida residents, Walter Rudder and Paula Keegan, are set to enjoy a show by former Tonight Show host Jay Leno as a well-deserved reward for saving their neighbor from the deadly grip of an American alligator. The incident occurred on a Friday evening when Rick Fingeret was walking his dogs near a pond in Naples. Suddenly, an 11-foot-long gator emerged from the darkness and attacked him.
Fingeret recounted the terrifying moment to the Naples Daily News: “I tripped in all the frenzy… And the minute I fell— … He got me.” The gator dragged Fingeret across the ground, unsure what to do next. Despite being trapped, Fingeret fought back by hammering at its scales and poking its eyes but couldn’t pry open its jaws.
Miraculously, Fingeret managed to keep hold of his dogs’ leashes throughout. Neighbors Rudder and Keegan happened upon them while driving by and initially thought he had fallen. However, they soon realized that an alligator was involved. In response to Fingeret’s desperate instructions, Rudder drove over the gator with his car to free him.
The neighbors used makeshift materials like shirts and leashes to stop Fingeret’s bleeding until help arrived. As a testament to their bravery and quick thinking, they were awarded tickets to see Jay Leno perform at Hertz Arena after being nominated for recognition by Naples Daily News