LAKELAND, Fla. – A Central Florida man who lost part of his arm to an alligator discussed the terrifying encounter.

Jesse Kinsinger, 21, of Lakeland was released from the hospital over the weekend after he was attacked by a gator while swimming in a lake next to his apartment complex less than two weeks ago.

Kinsinger says the gator first checked him out while he was in the middle of the lake.

Lakeland police, however, say they were called to a home by a woman who said her son needed psychological help and was having an "episode."

According to police, the man said he knew law enforcement was looking for him, so he swam back across the lake, which had a sign posted that read "Caution! Alligators frequent this area!"

"It grabbed me on my leg. I felt like it was just feeling me out, and I got marks on both sides of my thighs," Kinsinger said. "It grabbed me real quick, like, bam, just a touch."

Kinsinger says he started swimming for his life and was almost to shore when the gator caught up to him.

"His mouth was a 180-degrees wide open, (and all I saw was) nothing but white and tongue and teeth. As soon as it crunched and he locked on, he started doing the barrel roll. I didn't know how big this gator was, so, of course, I'm rolling with it," Kinsinger said.

Kinsinger says after the gator tore his forearm off, he crawled up on shore where his brother-in-law helped him until paramedics arrived.

He was placed under the Baker Act and won't face criminal charges.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission workers say they pulled the 10-foot gator out of the lake later that night.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for Kinsinger's medical bills.