Watch: Zoo Visitor Jumps Into Enclosure To Save Alligator Handler After Reptile Latched Onto The Trainer's Hand

A zoo visitor has been hailed for his bravery after he leapt into an alligator enclosure to save a handler who had got her hand bitten by the reptile.

In a video that has gone viral, it shows the zoo keeper approach the alligator at Scales and Tails, located in Utah, US. The reptile can be seen moving quickly and latching onto the woman¡¯s hand.

As the alligator locked onto the trainer's hand, she was struggling to get out. This is when the man shows real bravado and jumps into action, trying to grab the woman and help her.

Donnie Wiseman literally threw himself into the line of fire and landed himself on top of the alligator. He somehow managed to ease the grip of its teeth that were snapping onto the zoo keeper's hand.

Screengrab/Facebook

For about one minute, Donnie can be seen holding the reptile as the woman¡¯s hand remains in the reptile¡¯s mouth. Then suddenly, the alligator thrusts its body back and forth. The handler is then able to remove her arm.

Scales and Tails zoo took to Facebook to thank the people who leapt to the handler's aid during the incident, which took place last Saturday (14 August).

It said: "We want to send a huge shoutout to Donnie Wiseman and Todd & Amy Christopher! We want to thank them for their heroism. Working with some of these animals has inherent risks that we as the staff accept. Yesterday, the sort of event that we hope never happens happened. One of our gator handlers got bitten by our large alligator and things took a bad turn. These gentleman could have stayed in the safety zone as most of us would, but instead jumped into the situation, of their own volition, and helped secure the alligator."

The female staff was taken to a hospital after having suffered injuries to her hand. She thanked the visitor for his help.

It could have been so much worse if not for the courageous man. Well done, Sir!