EastEnders star Jake Wood reveals his wife was almost KILLED by an alligator during family holiday in Florida… leaving his children ‘scarred for life’
EastEnders actor Jake Wood has recalled the terrifying moment his wife was almost killed by an alligator during a family holiday in Florida in 2014.
The Max Branning actor, 46, was on a boat trip in the Florida Everglades with wife Alison Murray and their children Buster and Amber when they were confronted by the man-eating crocodilian.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star told the Daily Star his children had begun screaming when they spotted the alligator approaching his wife as she paddled, with the incident leaving them ‘scarred for life.’
Frightening: EastEnders actor Jake Wood has recalled the terrifying moment his wife was almost killed by an alligator during a family holiday in Florida in 2014
Terror: The Max Branning actor, 46, was on a boat trip in the Florida Everglades with wife Alison Murray and their children Buster and Amber when they were confronted by the man-eating crocodilian (stock photo)
She narrowly avoided being eaten alive before getting out of the water safely.
He said: ‘She was standing in the water about 15 feet away when I see this thing floating down the river.
‘So I’m looking at it and thinking: ‘It’s got to be a log or something. Got to be a log.’All of a sudden it f***ing goes down and I f***ing see an eye. All the kids are screaming, I’m screaming: ‘Get back in the boat!’
‘As soon as an alligator goes underwater you don’t know where it is, it was horrible. It was only about 15 feet away.’
Family: The former Strictly Come Dancing star told the Daily Star his children had begun screaming when they spotted the alligator approaching his wife as she paddled, with the incident leaving them ‘scarred for life’
He said: ‘So I’m looking at it and thinking: ‘It’s got to be a log or something. Got to be a log.’All of a sudden it f***ing goes down and I f***ing see an eye. All the kids are screaming, I’m screaming: ‘Get back in the boat!’
The star said it was only when they returned to the boat hire shop and told their story to a staff member – who said they would never go into the water due to the ‘man-eater’ alligators – that they realised how lucky Alison had been.
He added thinking about the incident makes him feel ‘squiffy.’
Jake made his first appearance as Max Banning on 27 June 2006, and has gone on to star in some major storylines, usually revolving around his tangled love life.
Most memorably, Max was involved in a passionate affair with his daughter-in-law Stacey (Lacey Turner).
Holiday horror: The star said it was only when they returned to the boat hire shop and told their story to a staff member – who said they would never go into the water due to the ‘man-eater’ alligators – that they realised how lucky Alison had been
Nearly 14 million viewers tuned in on Christmas Day 2007, to see the love tryst finally uncovered as the Branning family gathered around the TV to watch Stacey and Bradley’s wedding video.
The storyline earned Jake and his co-stars a British Soap Award the following year, with Jake also winning the Best On-Screen Partnership gong in 2012 for his work with on-screen wife Jo Joyner.
Away from EastEnders, Jake was a huge hit when he took part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, finishing in fourth place with his pro partner Janette Manrara after wowing audiences with his Latin moves.
Fan favourite: Jake made his first appearance as Max Banning on 27 June 2006, and has gone on to star in some major storylines, usually revolving around his tangled love life
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