Woman wrestles gator to rescue her dog

INVERNESS, Florida (WPVI) -- A dog survived an alligator attack, thanks to a dedicated owner and a golf course volunteer, reports Tampa television station WFTS.

It happened recently at the Point 'o Woods golf course. A 7-and-a-half foot alligator snatched Lori Beiswinger's beloved dog, Hope, near the sixth hole.

Lori screamed for help, but no one heard her pleas. So she jumped into action.

"I jumped in, grabbed the tail and pulled him back and he starting thrashing and rolling her some more," said Lori.

Lori was neck deep in water grabbing the gator's tail when she said the gator turned and looked at her. Fearing for her life, Lori got out of the water without rescuing Hope.

Just then, golf course volunteer Jodie Daniels heard Hope yelping, grabbed a golf club and got in the water to try to pull the dog to safety. When that didn't work, he grabbed a shovel.

"It was quite a shock to pull the dog up and the gator is still attached to the dog," he told WFTS.

Hope was rescued, but suffered a severed artery. Lori used a table cloth that was in a golf cart as a tourniquet. They got Hope to the vet, where he underwent surgery and is now recovering.

Trappers were able to later catch the gator. They had to put it down.