Dominic Smithers
A Girl Scout troop had to swim for their lives when they were chased down by a huge alligator.
The young group were splashing around on Lake Raven at Huntsville State Park, Texas, when they spotted the powerful creature lurking in the water on Saturday (9 September).
According to reports, the Spring-area troop had gone to the park for an overnight camping trip.
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In footage that's been shared online, a group of people can be seen enjoying a swim just a few meters out.
As the gator moves through the water, people can be heard screaming and thrashing around, trying desperately to get back to shore and out of harm's way.
“This is an emergency!,” the person recording says. “Look how big it is!”
One swimmer came very close to being caught, just inches away from the predator.
“I thought (the other troops) were leaving me to go, so I jumped off and followed,” said scout Erin White.
At the time, White said, she didn't even know what was going on.
“I was close enough to get hurt," she said. "And I didn’t even know it was there. So I should probably focus on my surroundings more."
Recalling the terrifying incident, 11-year-old Ava Miller said she thought it was the end for her.
She said: “I was thinking, this is the day I die. It was moving faster than us or about the same.”
Adding: “Some of us were freaking out a little bit because we just realized that an alligator was about to attack us."
It's estimated that the gator measured 14 feet, but fortunately, group leader Nichole Glenn was there to help her girls.
She said: “There was no doubt in my mind that that alligator was not going to try and eat somebody."
Glenn went on: “I always say that I love them to death. I always say I would do anything for them. Now, I definitely know I would do anything for them."
Following the close call, the park police closed the area to swimmers.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said they had managed to remove a number of alligators from the lake in the past and were working to see if that would be needed again.
A spokesperson for the force said: “There is current signage in place in English and Spanish to assist with educating our visitors of the are alligators in the area.
Police also said that there are 'gator talks' with an interpretive ranger at the park every weekend, to educate people on the dangerous animals.
The spokesperson added: “This is to supplement the already posted signage, as well as help educate visitors about the alligators that exist in the park and considerations to living harmoniously with them."