Alligator headbutts, knocks out Florida police officer

The 2.5m reptile, which had it's jaws and feet bound, was being picked up and loaded on to the bag of a truck when it suddenly lashed out and connected heavily. Photo / Instagram

This is the shocking moment an alligator being transported away from a residential area lashes out and headbutts a police officer, knocking him out cold.

The eight foot reptile, which had it's jaws and feet bound, was being picked up and loaded on to the bag of a truck when it suddenly lashed out and connected heavily.

The police officer, who had been nearest the reptile's jaws, took the weight of the whipping motion straight to the face as the alligator tried to wriggle free.

Filmed in Ocoee in Orlando, Florida, the alligator was seen walking from door to door forcing authorities to come and relocate it to a safer area, the MailOnline reported.

The alligator managed to whip it's snout at the officer after it was restrained by a Florida Fish and Wildlife trapper and loaded onto the bed of a truck sending the man sprawling to the ground.

This is the shocking moment an alligator being transported away from a residential area lashes out and headbutts a police officer, knocking him out cold. Photo / Instagram / jack_redding_fishing_

After recoiling its body from the headbutt it then whipped it's tail, hitting the two other men trying to contain it.

Local resident Walter Day said: "The gator flipped back and head-butted the guy.

"(It) knocked him to the ground. At that point, it was (kind of) free and whacked police officers with its tail." Recalling what happened before the animal was caught, he said:

"It walked for 20 steps and then it just (kind of) sat down and walked for 20 steps and sat down. 'It was (kind of) odd to watch."

The 2.5m reptile, which had it's jaws and feet bound, was being picked up and loaded on to the bag of a truck when it suddenly lashed out and connected heavily. Photo / Instagram

Although Florida is famous for its gators, the Ocoee residents live away from a body of water, and were stunned by how far it had wandered.

Experts say the reptiles usually wander further when they are looking for a mate – or hungry and in search of a meal.