Ruth Langsford was left gobsmacked on Wednesday’s This Morning as she watched a video of a man saving a zookeeper from an alligator attack.
At the start of the ITV show, Ruth and Eamonn spoke about the incredible moment that fearless zoo visitor Donnie Wiseman jumped to the rescue.
Lindsay Bull, a 31-year-old handler, was rushed to hospital after the creature suddenly turned during feeding at the Scales and Tails experience.
It bit her hand and pulled her into the water at the reptile show in West Valley City, US.
Donnie was brave enough to run over and intervene, and managed to get on top of the animal and save Lindsay – while his wife Theresa filmed the entire ordeal.
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ITV)
Ruth and her husband Eamonn Holmes spoke to Donnie and Theresa live from their home in Utah, as they tried to get a better idea of what happened at the zoo.
After watching a clip of the attack, Ruth was seen gasping with her hands over her mouth as she struggled to comprehend what she had just seen.
“Let’s give him a big round of applause,” Eamonn said, before telling Donnie: “You’re a hero and you were calm under pressure.”
Donnie replied: “That was something I never suspected I would be doing, saving someone’s life, especially from an alligator in Utah.”
Speaking about what happened, he continued: “After he released her, I knew to not let go. She asked me if I was bitten. I was thinking I can’t slip, I have to be quick with this.
“I made my move and I was lucky enough to make it out and escape,” Donnie added.
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ITV)
Of course, Lindsay was extremely thankful to Donnie for saving her on Saturday.
“For him to come in and like jump into action like that, he absolutely, he’s a hero for having done what he did,” she said.
Scales and Tails, the Utah company, praised the courage of Donnie and two others who helped with the scary rescue mission.
They said in a statement on Facebook : “We want to send a huge shout out 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.”
They continued: “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.
“Their help, combined with the training of our staff member, probably saved her life and her limbs.
“Mrs. Christopher had a nursing background and started first aid prior to the EMT’s arrival and we thank her for that as well.
“Our staff member is doing well and is in recovery.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.