A Lake County man is in the hospital after escaping an alligator attack.
It happened on Canal Street in Tavares just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Investigators said the man, was working on a water pump at the house of his mother, Doreen Brown, when the gator jumped up and bit him on the hand.
Brown was nearby when her son, Doug, was bitten, and took him to the hospital.
"He was on his knees, and by good luck he jumped up on his feet, and at that point the alligator jumped straight up, grabbed his hand, and he managed to pull his hand away from it," Brown said. "It was just so frightening."
The 8-foot gator was caught by a trapper. Wildlife officers said they believe someone was feeding the gator.