A visitor to a Utah reptile centre leapt into a large alligator enclosure in order to rescue a female handler who had been dragged into a water tank by an alligator.

In a video captured by party guest Theresa Wiseman, a woman who works as an alligator instructor for Scales and Tails, a self-described “educational and entertainment company,” attempts to command a large alligator to its water tank after it climbed onto a platform.

The instructor signs a command, signalling the alligator to retreat back into the water, while a group of children at the party watching from behind a glass barrier.

However, rather than retreating, the alligator grabs the handler’s hand and drags her into the tank. The gator thrashes and twists deeper into the water tank with the handler’s hand in its mouth.

Donnie Wiseman, the husband of the woman who filmed the video, jumped into the tank with the assistance of another guest to wrestle the handler’s hand away from the alligator’s jaws.

Wiseman hopped onto the alligator’s back, attempting to subdue it while Christopher worked to open the gator’s jaws and free the instructor’s hand.

Moments later, the gator let go of the handler’s hand as she leapt to safety from the water. Wiseman remained on the alligator’s back as the handler and Christopher instructed him on how to safely jump off the gator’s back. Following the encounter, both guests and instructor returned safely behind the glass.

According to Shane Richins, the company’s owner, the handler was opening the enclosure to feed the alligator as usual, but the reptile “got a little extra spunky.”

He explained that the centre has a strict policy requiring a second handler to be present when employees work with the alligators. However, he said, this has not been enforced in recent years if the worker is not intending to enter the enclosure.

“We still enforce it strictly whenever somebody gets in with the gator but, of course, going forward, we will be back to strictly enforcing it with any interactions with the gator for that very reason,” Richins said.

In a Facebook comment, Wiseman said, “To the staff at Scales and Tails thank you for having such skilled and brave people workin’ in that environment saved us both.”

Scales and Tails said the handler was provided medical assistance by guest Amy Christopher, who had experience in nursing and started first aid prior to the arrival of emergency services, according to a statement released on Facebook.

Richins said the handler underwent surgery and is taking antibiotics. The West Valley City business said Sunday she is “doing well and is in recovery.”

The company hailed the visitors who rushed to the handler’s aid.

“These gentlemen could have stayed in the safety zone as most of us would, but instead jumped into the situation, of their own volition, and helped secure the alligator,” the company said in a statement.

“Their help, combined with the training of our staff member, probably saved her life and her limbs.”

his story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed reporting for this story.