Homeless man has testicle, finger and toes bitten off by 9ft alligator

A homeless man in Florida narrowly escaped with his life after being attacked by an alligator which bit off his testicle, finger and toes.

Fredric Iman, 68, spoke of how he was washing himself in a Port Charlotte pond on Monday (24 July) when the nine-foot alligator attacked him from behind.

"I turned around, and I know I punched it in the eye," he later told local ABC news affiliate, WZVN. "I tried to get it away, and it tried to pull me in."

He managed to fight off the animal as it dragged him into the pond.

"I was kind of in agony, you know. You're having a nice day one minute and the next minute you're a bloody mess," he added.

Iman staggered into a local surgery centre where employees called 911. He was then airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital where he continues to recover, but now missing his left index finger, two left toes and one of his testicles.

Iman, who says he's a self-taught "physical healing arts professional", has been homeless for more than 20 years since moving to Florida.

"I gotta get back out on the street missing a finger and two toes. That's not real pleasant," he said, as doctors continue to provide treatment despite him being unable to pay medical bills.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said the alligator was later removed from the pond and was euthanised.

The incident is said to be the fifth alligator attack in south west Florida in this month alone.