Two dim-witted wannabe influencers are being investigated after going wildly viral for filming themselves stroking alligators in Florida — simply days after a swimmer was killed by one.
“Include us to pet alligators,” TikTokker Kileigh Rose wrote of the death-defying foolishness her and a pal reckoned can be a part of a enjoyable “Steve Irwin summer season.”
One clip reveals the younger girls paddling on Silver Springs State Park in a small, clear canoe when one in all them places her hand within the water, rubbing her hand alongside the alligator’s again, the Orlando Sentinel reported of the footage that was deleted after racking up 2.1 million views and a flurry of shock.
“Did you get that? I simply pet the s–t out of him,” the foolhardy kayaker stated with a smile.
One other clip — seen an astonishing 21 million instances — confirmed an alligator thrashing round close to their small canoe.
“F–okay!” the TikTokker’s pal shouted because the gator splashed dangerously shut, as Kileigh screamed in terror from a paddleboard.
The Florida Wildlife Fee is now investigating the footage, with doable punishment of a $500 effective and even 60 days in jail for petting alligators, which is taken into account harassment.
The baffling video went viral simply days after no less than three terrifying alligator assaults — together with the horrific mauling of hiker Brittany Clark, additionally in Florida.
Clark, 31, was ambushed on June 28 whereas swimming within the Econlockhatchee River at Little Massive Econ State Forest, round 90 miles from the place the TikTokkers filmed their loopy content material.
Brodie Terry, an 11-year-old Pennsylvania schoolboy, additionally misplaced his hand in an assault whereas fishing together with his household on June 27, whereas fisherman James Grayson McMicken, 71, was ambushed by a gator whereas fishing on the shore of a canal close to his North Fort Myers dwelling on July 3.
He solely escaped together with his life intact after digging his thumb in its eye earlier than hammering it together with his rod.
A lot of the TikTokker’s followers had little sympathy for his or her potential troubles.
“Repercussion must occur. That is 100% harassment of the gator, the gator is swimming away, even hissing as a warning however she continues to observe it,” one appalled viewer wrote on-line.
“Not the brightest bulb within the pack,” one other quipped.
