A group of Cubans jumped into a spring in Florida last Saturday, despite spotting an alligator in the water, in a video that went viral on TikTok and sparked a wave of reactions from those labeling them as reckless.
The clip, published by the user @reiniermompie, identified as "El Cubano de Los Hondas", shows the moment when all the American bathers present left the water upon the appearance of the reptile, while the Cubans decided to stay and encourage each other to jump.
"Sir, we were here swimming, and all the Americans left because a crocodile showed up. Look over there, the Americans got scared, but here are the Cubans, jump in, jump in," the video's author narrates as he and his friends dive into the water with the animal in sight.
At one point in the clip, the same user addresses the reptile with a phrase that summarizes the group's attitude: "Hold on a little longer, hold on."
The video, lasting 34 seconds, garnered over 106,000 views and generated 82 comments, many of which were critical of the behavior displayed.
The comment that best summarizes the general sentiment of the users was: "Then come the regrets, the likes have people on another level, God bless them, and take care."
The springs of Florida are a natural habitat for American alligators, which thrive in the freshwater of the state, and whose population is estimated to be 1.3 million individuals.
Florida wildlife authorities warn that swimming in areas where these reptiles are sighted is a high-risk behavior, and that provoking or approaching them can result in fines of up to $500 for harassment of wildlife.
The data supports that warning: since 1948, Florida has recorded nearly 500 alligator attacks, with between 27 and 31 being fatal. Only in 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 27 attacks, two of which were fatal, marking a 12% increase from 2024.
A recent study indicates that 96% of non-fatal alligator bites are due to risky behavior by humans, such as swimming in areas known to be inhabited by reptiles.
In April 2025, a three-meter alligator attacked and killed a 57-year-old woman while she was swimming in a private spring in Levy County, Florida.
This video adds to a pattern of Cubans being involved in viral risky situations in the United States, such as the case of a Cuban filling plastic bottles with gasoline in January 2026, or a group roasting pig on a skewer while driving through Texas in September 2025.
The phrase from the most shared comment, "likes have people on another level", summarizes the growing criticism within the Cuban exile community regarding this type of content.
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