Water rescue underway in Florida after potential gator attack

A missing teen possibly pulled to the depths of a retention pond by an alligator sparked water rescue efforts in Florida Wednesday afternoon.

A man who lives nearby the pond told authorities he rushed to grab his binoculars when he saw movement in the usually quiet body of water, Click Orlando reported.

“It bit me, it bit me,” the 15-year-old reportedly screamed as he flailed about in the water.

Deputies from the Florida Fish and Wildlife and other local agencies — including Orange County Fire and Rescue and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office — responded to area off Salem Drive around noon.

It’s unclear whether an alligator is behind the teenage boy’s disappearance, which is currently being treated as a missing person and a possible drowning.

Video of the scene shows at least three boats searching the retention pond, with additional equipment en route, officials said.

“We are searching this area until we find an individual,” Florida Wildlife Conservation officer Chad Weber told the news station. “It could be days, literally.”

Authorities were also going door-to-door asking residents about gator activity in the area and whether or not they knew of any missing teens. They have so far been unable to identify the boy allegedly pulled into the retention pond.