More often than not, animal attacks will leave its victim missing a limb or a chunk of flesh torn off its body. If they are lucky, bite marks, minor injuries and not-too-deep scratches will be their battle scars and a good enough story to tell their peers.

Most of these attacks are either by mistaken identity or as an act of defense. If not provoked, wild animals will be more than happy to step out of our way. But when things go sideways, they will retaliate in ways that we can never imagine.

This is exactly what happened to Justin Perchalski when he was attacked by an 11-foot alligator that he was stalking in a swamp during a night hunt near his home at Palm Bay, Florida.

The attack happened on August 17, two days after the state opened its alligator hunting season which runs from August 15 until November 1 of each year. Each hunter is allowed to kill two alligators.

Alligator
In this image: An alligator surfaces in a pond near located near the space shuttle Discovery as it sits on launch pad 39b at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Dec. 8, 2006. Getty Images/Mark Wilson

According to Daily Star, the trophy hunter was “attempting to kill” the reptile which he captured himself when it “snapped at him.”

The alligator grabbed his right hand and tried to drag Perchalski out of the boat and into the water, it added.

Justin's brother, Ryan, told Fox26 that the 30-year-old hunter “reached over the side of the boat to pull on the line” when the gator came out from the water and grabbed his hand.

The animal then “made it about a turn-and-a-half” with Justin's hand in his mouth before he let go.

Alligator
A child in Florida had a close encounter with an alligator while playing in his backyard. An alligator is pictured on grass on April 29, 2018 in Avondale, Louisiana. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

He added that the scenario was “kind of crazy” considering that alligators typically “don't let go” when they latch onto their prey.

Three of Justin's friends prevented the alligator from dragging him to the water. They applied a tourniquet, dialled 911 and drove the boat to shore.

Ryan continued that Justin might be finished with his hunting career as the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) turned his brother's bones “to mush,” said the New York Post.

He will, however, overcome the “mental scars” left behind by the freak attack when he described it be a “freak accident."

Justin was rushed to the Orlando Regional Medical Center via air ambulance where he went major surgery.

The hunter is not expected to regain full use of the mangled limb as he lost the radial bone in his forearm.

“ You do it long enough, something like this is bound to happen,” Justin said.

Justin is a proud hunter and his Facebook page is filled with his accomplishments.

Fish and Wildlife Commission officials will not deem the alligator that bit Perchalski as a “nuisance” and will not be trapped.

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