Viral video: Barefoot man wrestling giant alligator on highway gives netizens goosebumps

A video shared by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has shocked and amazed the internet. The video shows a barefoot man wrestling a giant alligator on a highway in Florida. The alligator had wandered onto I-95/I-295 on the Southside, causing a traffic disturbance.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office confirmed the bizarre scene, saying, “If you were cruising down I-95/I-295 on the Southside yesterday and thought you saw a barefoot man wrestling a giant alligator in the median, nope, your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you. That really happened.”

To safely handle the situation, the Sheriff's Office worked with Florida Fish & Wildlife, the Florida Highway Patrol, and a local expert known as the "Blue Collar Brawler" to remove the alligator from the road.

Despite the unusual event, the department kept the tone light, adding, “Just another totally normal day in the Sunshine State.” The playful comment, along with the surprising video, quickly went viral.

Viewers reacted online with a mix of awe and fear. Many said the video gave them goosebumps, while others praised the man's courage. One commenter joked, “Bruh was happier than a barefooted kid at a chocolate factory to get down and dirty with that gator.” Another added, “I knew he was the right guy for the job when I saw he didn’t have shoes on.” A third user said, “He’s barefoot because usually gators are in mud and mucky water, no sense ruining a good pair of boots.”

While some found the video scary, many pointed out that this kind of interaction between humans and alligators is a regular occurrence in Florida. One comment summed it up, saying, “Totally a normal day in Florida.”

Also read: Meet Sophie Shine, Shikhar Dhawan's girlfriend, a corporate executive, she is from...