Fortunately, officers with the sheriff's office were able to use a safety hook to pull the animal out of the water.

The post continued, "Deputy Brownsberger was able to use a safety hook to bring him to the edge where Deputy Faust reached down and grabbed the gator. His mouth was then secured with electric tape and temporarily detained so they could safely transport him to Lake Apopka, where the gator was released on its own recognizance. No deputies or gators were hurt during the encounter."

All climbers have to go through training before heading for the courses, according to Vignato, and the harnesses each person must wear feature a special system so one safety hook cannot be unlatched until another hook has been attached to a safety element.