Video: Dad saves son, 6, from alligator attack in Florida

A father-and-son canoe trip took a horrifying turn when the young boy slipped into the water - and into the jaws of a large alligator.

Joey Welch, 6, was about to set off on the trip at the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida, with his father, Joseph Welch, when he ran off down a dock and fell into the water, reports Local 10.

The boy told the news site: "I went in it and there was a splash. The alligator just swam into me and clamped my arm."

His father immediately jumped in after him and started punching the animal in an attempt to scare it off.

He told WSVN TV: "I didn't want to play tug-of-war with the alligator and get his arm ripped off, so I started punching the alligator on top of the head as hard as I could."

Luckily for Joey, another witness to the incident ran over to help, and kicked the alligator in the stomach.

The animal eventually decided enough was enough, and released its grip on Joey.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife officials caught the alligator, and it was put down following the incident, reports Local 10.

The boy's mother said it was a "miracle" he still had his arm in tact, and didn't even suffer puncture wounds.

Back in July 2012, a teenager had his arm bitten off by an alligator in Caloosahatchee River Florida. Kaleb Langdale, 17, reportedly "offered" the limb in a bid to save his life.

And, in June 2012, an Everglades airboat captain had his hand bitten off by an alligator - in front of horrified tourists he was driving around.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the victim was a 63-year-old man called Wallace Weatherholt, who worked for Captain Doug's Everglades Tours.

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