A man in Florida was left terrified after an alligator attacked his car as the creature emerged from the flood waters caused by Hurricane Milton, with wildlife experts warning that apex predators are another grave risk associated with surging floodwaters.

A Florida man experienced a shocking encounter with an alligator while inside his car on Wednesday night, as the reptile surged from the flood waters unleashed by Hurricane Milton.

The harrowing video shows the man looking out of his car window only to see a “big f—— alligator” chomping at his tyres, prompting him to hastily retreat back into his vehicle. The darkness of the night made the gator harder to spot, intensifying the fear factor of the incident.

Experts in wildlife have issued warnings that top predators like alligators represent a serious danger during floods, which can sweep them away for miles, potentially landing right at people’s doorsteps. This caution came just hours before Milton hit Florida.

Christopher Gillette, who operates an animal sanctuary in Putnam County, took to Instagram to alert locals about the possibility of encountering displaced animals amidst the flooding. As he prepared Bellowing Acres sanctuary for the storm, he urged his followers to be aware of animals trying to survive the catastrophic event.