On Friday, June 13, multiple kids were playing in Lake Waccamaw, a large, freshwater lake, when a child screamed, “Something bit me!” As the children rushed out of the water, which was four feet deep, an alligator emerged from the same spot, the Lake Waccamaw Police Department said in a statement.

“The injuries sustained were serious, but not life-threatening in any way,” said police of the child’s injury. “It is also unclear as to if the injuries were caused by a bite or a claw. But they were definitely caused by the alligator.”

After the attack, the animal was “neutralized,” according to authorities. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) confirmed that the move is standard procedure when a human encounters an alligator, according to NBC affiliate WECT.

Fortunately, the hurt child