“I had never seen anything like that before …”
In a remarkable act of heroism, Doug Hay, a Florida resident from Lakewood Ranch, saved a bald eagle from an alligator-infested lake in his backyard. One day last week, Doug heard a massive splash, and upon investigating, he saw a bald eagle struggling in the water, roughly 300 feet from shore. Just as the eagle floundered helplessly, an alligator began moving in, likely sensing an easy meal.
Without hesitation, Doug rushed into the water, braving the alligator-filled lake to reach the stranded eagle. His determination and quick thinking were nothing short of extraordinary.
Justin Matthews, a wildlife rescuer with over 40 years of experience, was called to the scene and was shocked by Doug’s boldness. “I had never seen anything like that before,” Matthews said, expressing amazement at Doug’s willingness to swim out and save the eagle. When Matthews arrived, he noticed that the eagle had an injury on its chest, likely from a previous battle with another bird before the crash landing. After the rescue, the eagle was transported to a wildlife vet for treatment, where it was reported to be recovering well.
Matthews, a veteran rescuer, was thoroughly impressed by Doug’s bravery. “When he told me what he did, I thought, ‘Oh, yeah. Right,'” Matthews remarked. “And then I saw the video, and I thought, ‘Holy crap.'” Doug’s actions truly spoke for themselves, showcasing the lengths he was willing to go to save a life.
Thanks to Doug’s incredible act of courage, the eagle is now on its way to recovery, and this inspiring story serves as a reminder of the extraordinary things people can do to help animals in need.