Horrifying moment water turns red after megalodon tooth hunter was attacked by alligator while diving in murky Florida river during mauling that almost burst his head open – as he shares trick he used to survive
- The large female alligator bit him on the head twice before Jeffrey Heim realized what was happening
- The mauling almost burst Heim’s head open after he was shifting through the sand at the bottom of the Myakka River in Orlando and felt something strike him
Grim GoPro footage shows the moment a murky Florida swamp turned red after a shark tooth hunter was attacked by an alligator while diving there.
The mauling almost burst Jeffrey Heim’s head open after he was shifting through the sand at the bottom of the Myakka River in Orlando in the hopes of finding a megalodon tooth, and felt something strike him.
The large female alligator bit him on the head twice before he realized what was happening. The GoPro strapped to his head was recording the ordeal at the same time.
During the attack, which happened two years ago, the camera picked up a large jolt and bubbles in the water before sinking to the ground.
The alligator itself did not appear on camera – but the water turned a sickening shade of crimson after Heim was bitten, as blood poured from his skull.
He believed that if the waterproof GoPro wasn’t strapped to his head, his injuries could have been a lot worse.
Jeffrey Heim showed off the severe cuts to his head, as well as his bruised and swollen eyes
He documented his ordeal on TikTok – showing fans clips of him strapped up in a hospital bed before getting his surgeries
During the attack, which happened two years ago, the camera picked up a large jolt and bubbles in the water before sinking to the ground
The animal bit his scalp and his hand – but he managed to keep calm and avoid another hit. He got to the riverbank and called for help.
Heim was taken to hospital, where they put 34 staples in his head.
He documented his ordeal on TikTok – showing fans clips of him strapped up in a hospital bed before getting his surgeries.
Heim showed off the severe cuts to his head, as well as his bruised and swollen eyes.
He told Florida’s Fourth Estate episode: ‘I did know the dangers but I don’t think I took them seriously enough back then.
‘It was very powerful. It seemed a lot larger than it actually was.
The mauling almost burst Jeffrey Heim’s head open after he was shifting through the sand at the bottom of the Myakka River in Orlando and felt something strike him
The large female alligator bit him on the head twice before he realized what was happening. The GoPro strapped to his head was recording the ordeal at the same time
Heim is now the owner of a company called SHRKco that collects and sells ancient shark teeth. He donates his profits to ocean research organizations
Heim also shared the survival tool he thinks prevented the attack from turning deadly.
‘I saw her. She did bite me twice before I knew what was happening.
‘You never want to thrash or splash or act like prey, so I stayed calm.
‘I still don’t think I felt the full force of that bite. And if I did, my head would’ve exploded,’ he said.
Despite his injuries, the attack has not put him off his passion for megalodon tooth collecting has only grown.
He added: ‘Eventually someday when I’m old I want to have a museum of my best finds… and then pass that story on when I’m no longer here as well.’
Heim is now the owner of a company called SHRKco that collects and sells ancient shark teeth. He donates his profits to ocean research organizations.
