In May 2017, the calm waters of Moss Park in Orlando, Florida, suddenly erupted into chaos. Ten-year-old Juliana Ossa had been swimming in a designated area, enjoying a carefree afternoon, when the unthinkable happened.

From beneath the surface, a nearly nine-foot (2.7-meter) alligator surged upward with terrifying speed, clamping its massive jaws around her leg. In an instant, Juliana was caught in the grip of one of nature’s most powerful predators. Pain shot through her body. Onlookers screamed, but few knew how to react.

Yet Juliana wasn’t like most children.

Through the shock and fear, she remembered something extraordinary — a survival tip she had once heard at Gatorland, a nearby wildlife park. Trainers there had explained that if you press your fingers into an alligator’s nostrils, it must release its bite to breathe.

Summoning all her courage, Juliana reached forward and jammed her fingers into the reptile’s nose. Miraculously, the trick worked. The alligator loosened its grip, and in that brief opening, Juliana pulled free and swam to safety.

Rescuers rushed her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, where she was treated for puncture wounds. Incredibly, just hours later, she was released. The scars on her leg would fade, but the story of her bravery would ripple far beyond Orlando.

Today, Juliana’s escape is shared as a survival lesson in educational programs across the United States — a testament to the power of quick thinking, presence of mind, and unshakable resilience.

She may have been only ten years old, but in that life-or-death moment, Juliana Ossa proved that courage can outmatch even the jaws of an alligator.