A grandfather dived head first in to a garden pond in Florida to tangle with a seven feet long alligator to save the life of pet dog ‘Bounce’ who had been dragged in to the water by the reptile.

Steve Gustafson was working in his garden when he heard the noise and spotted Bounce being dragged in to the water.

The ex-lawyer didn’t hesitate before diving on top of the ‘gator to save the life of his canine pal.

Amazingly neither Steve nor Bounce was seriously injured.

Speaking about the ordeal, he explained: ‘Without thinking I just said “you’re not going to get her!” and just leaped on the gator.

‘Just like you do some silly belly flop in a pool – the only difference was I landed on top of a gator.’

Since we were only in three feet of water, I made a big push back towards the shore and when I did that the gator let go of Bounce and turned around and bit me.’