Stuart, Florida - It's the stuff of nightmares! One man in Florida managed to not only have a bike accident, but also to land directly on top of a mother alligator who was guarding her nest!

The cyclist was riding in Halpatiokee Regional Park in Stuart, Florida on Monday and lost control of his bike, police said on Facebook.

He fell into a body of water, and managed to land right on top of an eight-foot-long alligator, who attacked him.

The animal seriously injured him on his upper thigh, but the man was miraculously able to free himself. He was eventually rescued by passers-by and taken to hospital by helicopter.

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The man was clinging to roots about a foot and a half below the surface, a witness told station WPTV, who then used a dog leash to tie off the wound. "I hope he's OK," he said.

Officials said that the fact that the alligator remained nearby despite all the human activity meant she was guarding a nearby nest. Normally, alligators flee at the vibration and sound of humans, which is why attacks are rare.

This is a tricky time of year to have a run-in with a gator, as mating season is over and females are likely to be less afraid of people because of their mothering instincts.

Though they look like monsters, alligator mothers are some of the most nurturing and protective in nature. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, they will lay anywhere from 32 to 90 eggs, and closely work their nests over the next 65 days by adding and removing material to regulate the eggs' temperature.

By doing this, they are actually able to control the gender of their offspring. They also audibly communicate with the unhatched babies, building a bond that will keep offspring close to their mother from one to three years after hatching.

This also means that these mothers are incredibly dangerous to anyone who is perceived as posing a threat to their babies.

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"People hike and walk and you're with nature. Especially this time of year, you just have to be aware of what's around you," trapper John Davidson told WPTV.

Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare, however, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Authorities said they would relocate the mother and return to find the nest to rescue the unhatched babies.