Gabriel Klimis is 13 years old and he already has a testimony most people won’t ever face.
The teen was just hanging out with his friends by a creek in Winter Springs, Florida. They had been swimming and were just relaxing when a massive alligator suddenly lunged out of the water. Gabriel said, “I just felt something like tug on to me, and wrap its jaw around me and gain grip of me.”
Gabriel Fights Off Gator with a Stick
Instead of freezing up Gabriel just reacted with a strength that felt like it came from somewhere else. “I just did what first came to mind,” he said. He grabbed a stick nearby and used it to pry himself away from the predator. His whole focus was simple: “Just try to get myself up as quickly as possible and make sure that nothing worse happens.”
It worked. Gabriel managed to break free even though he had a bad injury on his hip. The gator eventually retreated into the water leaving the boys in total shock. His brother Judah remembers the moment vividly. “He got up and we saw that he had a gator bite, and everyone was in shock. I was freaking out, and I was crying,” he said.
Gabriel Calls 911 While Others Were in Shock
Even while he was hurt Gabriel had the presence of mind to call 911 himself. Looking back on it now he knows he’s blessed. “It feels like good luck. I can still walk and stuff. And, I’m very thankful, because I could have not been here right now,” Gabriel shared.
When his mom Allison Klimis heard the news she was overwhelmed. She saw the photos of the alligator and knew how close she came to losing her son. “I just broke down crying on my lunch hour,” she said. “When, also, I saw the pictures of the size of the gator that tried to get my son. And, I knew it was an absolute miracle of God that he’s alive.”
“Angels Were Watching Over Him”
She’s just incredibly grateful he’s still whole and healthy. “In the end, I’m just blessed, grateful, thankful that the angels were watching over him and God was there because I know without that, my son could definitely be gone,” Allison said.
The amazing part is that Gabriel’s spirit isn’t broken at all. He still loves the outdoors. He said, “I guess I kind of learned my lesson, but at the same time, it’s not going to stop me from swimming somewhere else, like in a different creek or something, with my friends and having fun.”
The Klimis family is just leaning into their faith and thanking God for Gabriel’s quick thinking. It’s a real-life reminder of the promise in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Watch the miraculous story below.
