A US army veteran who discovered an alligator outside his house has been filmed using a wheelie bin to capture the reptile – before freeing it next to a nearby lake.
Eugene Bozzi, from Mount Dora in central Florida, jumped into action after his daughter told him the seven foot beast was in their front garden.
He was captured sliding the upended garbage can towards the snapping animal before flipping its lid shut to trap the maneater inside.
Remaining calm as neighbours shriek their astonished applause, Mr Bozzi- wearing flip flops - heaves bin upright and wheels it away. The container can be seen shaking in his hands as the alligator thrashes about inside.
“I was frightened when I had it in it, because it was so powerful,” the father-of-one told the Orlando news chanel WESH afterwards. “And I didn’t expect that. It was pushing out, whipping its tail around.”
The footage ends with Mr Bozzi dragging the trash can across the road to a lake opposite his home. There, he releases the gator.
So cool does Mr Bozzi stay that, once the creature begins to walk off, he even goes back for his bin.
“I don’t know the procedures,” he said. “So I did it my way… Military instinct kicked in and, you know, 'protect at all costs’."
His ‘way’, as it turned out soon won him adoration across the internet when the video exploded across social media on Tuesday.
“Name this man a Great Floridian,” demanded Democratic strategist Steve Schale. “Put his plaque next to the greatest of Great Floridians permanently honored in the Old Capitol.”
But there was a word of caution too.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urged anyone in a similar situation to call its officials who could dispatch a proper alligator trap.
“Don’t grab a garbage can,” it said.
