A child’s birthday party went from fun to frightening when kids observed a hero in their group jump into the alligator exhibit to save the bitten trainer during the live show. Scales and Tails Utah provided a few gasps, wimpers, and wails when their handler and ‘gator butted heads—literally and figuratively.
All looks totally normal as the trainer explains that the ginormous reptile is not supposed to climb onto his platform unless invited to do so by its trainer. We hear one mom respond with an “Oh” that clearly indicates she’s engaged and excited about what the little ones are learning.
As the trainer finishes her introductory sentences, she opens the clear door to begin her demonstration. She pushes back on the alligator now attempting to climb to her end of the platform, obviously without invitation, and it helps itself to her left hand that’s evidently come too close to resist.
In seconds the situation becomes terrifying! Trainer and alligator do a very brief push-and-pull dance, but the trainer determines quickly that she’s now going to have to jump into the ‘gator’s space in order to free herself. And, from the back of the crowd, we see a man emerge, Donnie Wiseman. He’s definitely not upfront for the program, but he bounds forward in mere seconds to help the trainer in peril.
He calls out to the trainer, “What do you want me to do?” Then, with a bit of urgency, to any staff who may be in earshot, he shouts, “We got trouble in here!” In seconds, he repeats those phrases much louder and in a manner that screams emergency. The trainer has now been flipped completely over by the alligator, and she is drenched.
Our yellow-shirted hero Donnie jumps in and mounts the alligator and begins asking for instructions on what he needs to do. The trainer is notably calm, her hand fully encased in the cranky creature’s mouth. The