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Chilling footage shows 14-foot alligator dragging corpse down Florida canal before being shot dead

After 'humanely killing' the alligator, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office retrieved the unidentified body from the water

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised.

LARGO, FLORIDA: Florida residents were left in disbelief as they witnessed a massive 14-foot (426.72 cm) alligator dragging a lifeless human body down a canal near Clearwater in the small town of Largo on Friday, September 22, as per Daily Mail. 

The reptile held the victim firmly in its powerful jaws as it glided along the waterway, leaving onlookers horrified. 

Florida alligator found with dead body clamped between its jaws

Alerted by the alarming scene of an alligator with a corpse, local residents quickly notified the Largo Fire Department, which, in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, successfully removed the reptile from the water before shooting it dead.

Authorities described that the alligator was "humanely killed." 

Following its death, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office retrieved the body from the water, although the identity of the deceased remains unknown.

Investigators thoroughly examined the enormous alligator, which measured almost 14 feet in length. It is suspected that the reptile originated from a nearby alligator-infested lake known as Ridgecrest Park.

Authorities are actively investigating to determine the precise cause of the Florida resident's tragic demise.

Internet reacts to report of Florida alligator found with dead body

As a video of the incident went viral on X (formerly Twitter), netizens flocked to express their shock.

A user tweeted, "Only in Florida! That’s wild!" while another dubbed the alligator a "Dinosaur."

"If I was the diver I wouldn’t have gone in the water. That’s not worth the paycheck," claimed one, with another saying, "And I really hope it was quick and painless for that person."

One stated, "imagine coming face to face with a 13 foot gator."

As a person inquired, "Is it still alive at this time? The tail is moving," another user replied, "For those concerned about its moving tail... Why do alligators still move after being shot?"

They explained, "The hearts of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals alike have their own pacemaker cells that take over when the signals from the brainstem are not coming through for some reason, which ensures that the heart still functions for a while, even when the brain doesn't."

"Didn’t even give bro a chance to surrender or tell his side of the story smh," quipped a user.