A Florida bicyclist was 'severely bitten' by an alligator, but broke free and crawled to safety, police say

• A bicyclist was "severely bitten" by an alligator in Florida after he crashed and fell into water.
• The female gator grabbed hold of the cyclist and severely injured him during the Monday attack.
• The cyclist managed to break free from the gator's grip and crawl to safety.

A bicyclist was "severely bitten" by a 9-foot-long alligator in Florida after he crashed and plunged into a body of water, authorities said.

The man was riding his bike on a trail at Halpatiokee Park in the city of Stuart at around 11 a.m. Monday when he lost control and fell into the water about six feet down an embankment, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.

That's the moment when the female gator attacked the cyclist, grabbing hold of him and "severely injuring" him, said the sheriff's office.

The victim managed to break free from the animal's grip and crawled away to an area where he was then helped by a bystander, according to authorities.

Firefighters, police, and wildlife officials responded to the scene, aided to the wounded man, and then drove the victim more than a mile to a park area where a medical helicopter crew was waiting.

The alligator that attacked the man was captured by a trapper shortly after the incident, authorities said.