Chris Cuomo Says Man Bravely Caught Alligator Because He Had Italian Last Name
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo on Thursday night lauded a 36-year-old man who bravely captured a large alligator in a trash can in Florida, joking that he was able to pull it off because he had an Italian last name.
The viral video shows Eugene Bozzi, an army veteran from north Philadelphia, moving a trash can to capture the six foot animal outside his home in Orange County. The reptile backs away while Bozzi, who is wearing Adidas slides, approaches the alligator.
After a few seconds moving towards it, Bozzi shifts the bin lid over the alligator, which thrashes around as he tries to contain it. He then lifts up the bin slowly and the alligator tips inside, and he manages to frantically close the lid on the bin so he can move the animal. Bozzi then moves the alligator to a nearby river, walking backwards down a hill in slides before releasing it.
Bozzi shared a video of the capture on Tuesday on his Instagram page. Bozzi told the New York Post the idea to use the trash can came from watching videos on Animal Planet.
Cuomo called it "an epic showdown between a man and an alligator" but was shocked to learn that Bozzi had never done anything like that before and had no prior expertise on alligators.
After watching the video, Cuomo told his audience that he finally figured out "finally figured out why it makes sense, joking that it was " because Bozzi had an Italian last name. "B-O-Z-Z-I, Italian blood. That alligator never had a chance."
The CNN host interviewed Bozzi via Skype and asked him what he thought about the widespread reaction to the video. Bozzi said that alligator was "really deprived and tired after going through that ordeal" and he just wanted to "make sure all was safe," and get it away from his children.
"Obviously you love your kids, because who takes on an alligator?" Cuomo asked. "What made you think this is the way to capture the alligator?"
Bozzi said his daughters ride their bicycles on the streets in their neighbourhood and they had found a small alligator recently, which he had grabbed by the tail and moved away from them. One of his daughters later showed him the larger alligator, and he grabbed the bin to move it with.
"I used my war techniques and the Steve Irwin came out in me a little bit, you know, and I treated him like a 'Hungry Hippo' mouth," said Bozzi, referencing the late Australian conservationist who was nicknamed "the crocodile hunter".
Although Bozzi, who has seven daughters, said he hadn't learnt to apprehend alligators in the military, he said his experience there helped him keep calm under pressure.
Cuomo encouraged Bozzi to call the police or wildlife agency next if he ever encounters a large alligator by his house again.
