Firefighter mauled by 12ft alligator reveals brutal details of moment animal’s teeth ‘burst open’ its skull and face

A FIREFIGHTER who was attacked by a 12-foot alligator has recalled the terrifying moment the reptile bit him.

Drone footage captured the moment the alligator’s teeth entered the man’s skull.

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Florida firefighter and former Air Force pararescue Juan Carlos “JC” La Verde said teeth were driven through his skull, torso and face during the attack, Tampa Bay News reported.

The shocking video shows him and the alligator in a head-on collision.

“I never saw the alligator coming at me,” JC said of his swim with no long hair and no goggles.

The original video’s caption explains that JC was “swimming in Lake Thonotosassa and shooting an instructional video” when the alligator struck.

During its contact with the alligator, its extremely powerful jaws closed around the swimmer’s head.

The attack left JC with “multiple fractures of his skull and jaw,” resulting in him undergoing six-hour surgery followed by a 10-day hospitalization.

He’ll need at least one plate over his brain.

GoFundMe in support of the wounded hero raised over $63,000.

Gator attacks have seen a surge lately.

Teen Briann Morr claimed she saw a massive alligator coming towards her with its jaws open.

The 13-year-old claimed she quickly thought of hitting the beast when it tried to latch on to her.

Morr said she was swimming with friends at the Gardner boat ramp in Zolfo Springs when the animal charged at her.

She told NBC2, “I turn around because I heard something go through the water and the alligator tried to grab my foot and I kicked my foot under the water.

“I turned my head and saw his mouth opening and closing on my arm, and then I punched him.”

The teenager suffered injuries from the brutal attack and was taken to the hospital by her mother, Krystal.

Briann told NBC 2 that she’s having trouble raising her arm, but doctors believe there’s no permanent damage.

Relieved, Krystal said, “I feel lucky to have my daughter.

“Right now we would probably be planning a funeral if she wasn’t so quick to think.”

While JC hopes his alligator accident will set an example for humans to overcome obstacles, he took responsibility for putting himself in a dangerous situation.

“Any time I fail to mitigate the risk, I face the consequences,” he told the Tampa Bay Times.

“I took things to the wind and it was serious for me. I have to learn this lesson.”