A Florida man had only been in the Myakka River for one minute before an alligator snapped its jaws around his skull.

Jeffrey Heim, 25, said he frequently dives in Florida waters, looking for fossilised megalodon shark teeth.

A commercial spearfisherman, ethically sourcing shark teeth is his passion project.

READ MORE: Man blasted for harassing alligator during golf round

But last Sunday, that passion turned into pain.

"You never understand the power of a wild animal like that until you're in its mouth," Mr Heim said.

"I come up for a breath and I felt like I got hit by a boat going 50 miles an hour.

"Felt like a propeller to the head and it pulled me down."

Mr Heim quickly realised what struck his head, wasn't a boat.

"I look up and the gator's just looking at me about four feet in front of me," he said.

"Then he started coming at me. I just learned from dealing with sharks, you don't wanna act like prey so you don't wanna move too fast. So, I started slowly moving away."

Mr Heim was able to get out of the water before the gator could reach him again.

Witnesses nearby called 911 and help arrived within minutes.

READ MORE: Florida man catches 4m alligator he had watched for years

"I'm lucky it didn't death roll," Mr Heim said.

"I'm lucky it didn't get an arm, or a hand, or my face, or my neck, or my leg, or literally anywhere else."

Mr Heim said while the gator could have easily taken one of his limbs, his skull was strong enough to withstand the gator's teeth, while protecting his brain.

Had he been knocked unconscious by the blow, his story may have ended very differently.

"I think he hit me right in the perfect spot," Mr Heim said.

"Someone was watching out."

Even after the gator nearly killed Mr Heim, he blamed himself for what happened.

READ MORE: It's a croc-out! Alligator headbutts rescuer

"I was in its territory," he said.

"I didn't weigh the risk to the rewards. Technically it's gator mating season, so this was probably a female protecting her eggs."

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission confirms a licensed nuisance trapper will work to remove the gator.

"FWC's response to alligator bite incidents is to remove the alligator involved," the commission said in a statement.

"FWC wildlife experts use sound methods and take only those alligators needed to resolve the risk to public safety.

"Analysis is conducted to ensure the responsible alligator has been removed.

"Relocating nuisance alligators is not a feasible option for people or alligators.

"Relocated alligators nearly always try to return to their capture site. In the process of returning, they can create problems for people or other alligators along the way.

"If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and usually more difficult the second time."

Captured alligators become the property of the trapper, who is contracted by the FWC for the job.

In most cases, the animal is slaughtered for its hide and meat, but they can also be sold to an alligator farm, an exhibit or a zoo.

Victoria has recorded three new local cases of COVID-19 as the government confirmed the easing of lockdown restrictions for regional Victoria will go ahead as planned tonight.

Acting Premier James Merlino today confirmed all three cases were close contacts of existing infections, and it means regional areas can see many restrictions ease.

"That is great news for regional Victoria," Mr Merlino said.

"That means lifting the stay-at-home and travel restrictions."

FOLLOW LIVE: Three new cases in Victoria

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An 89-year-old man at Arcare Maidstone Aged Care is among the new cases and remains in hospital today.

The man, whose positive result was announced late yesterday, is the facility's second residential infection and is the cousin of the first case found in a 99-year-old woman.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said all three cases had been in quarantine for their entire infectious period.

"All were primary close contacts of previously identified positive cases and all were quarantining and in isolation for the entire infectious period, so there are no new exposure sites related to those cases," he said.

READ MORE: Federal Government ponders options as Victorian economy leaks billions

Professor Cheng said the two cases, in addition to the aged care resident, is a child of a previously identified case in Whittlesea and the other is a staff member at Stratton Finance in Port Melbourne.

Health authorities have managed to link one of the state's mystery cases to a shopping centre exposure site, Professor Cheng said.

"There are now three unlinked cases – that is the case in Whittlesea, the case in Maidstone, the family reported yesterday … there was one other case that lives in the South Melbourne area, and we now, as of this morning, have managed to link that person to another case from an exposure site."

He added the two cases detected at North Melbourne Primary School had not transmitted the virus at the school, but hundreds of close contacts were required to isolate.

About 330 staff and students are currently in isolation as a testing blitz remains underway.

READ MORE: Melbourne cafe shouts free food, coffees during lockdown after generous donation

"There is a designated testing lane at the Melbourne Showgrounds for that group," Professor Cheng said.

He also applauded the Bendigo community for coming forward for testing after wastewater detections showed coronavirus fragments in the area.

"I can advise that we will be continuing to test known primary close contacts to make sure they have not turned into cases in that region today."

READ MORE: Where to get mental health care during Victoria's COVID-19 lockdown

The latest three cases bring the outbreak total to 63.

A record number of people came forward for testing yesterday, with more than 57,500 results received.

Professor Cheng said the short-term goal for Victoria was to try and suppress the virus locally.

"We want to get back to where we were a couple of weeks ago," he said.

"In the long-term, really, there is only two ways out – there is either we get vaccinated or we get the virus.

"We can't hold this forever … so we really do need to get this vaccination program out."

The low case numbers today are positive news, with an infectious disease expert suggesting Melbourne's lockdown could end early if coronavirus cases remain low and no mystery cases emerge.

Speaking to Today, Professor Peter Collignon said the state needed to be more optimistic about its COVID-19 landscape, as contact tracing seemed to be "doing very well".

READ MORE: Victoria's new lockdown extension rules explained

"Most of the people they're finding are already in isolation or quarantine," he said.

"The numbers are staying the same or going down a bit.

"Yes, there are still things we need to know. Yes, there may be cases in the community we haven't found. But so far the numbers are doing what you normally would expect if you've got case finding, good cooperation with the public, lots of testing."

Melburnians will still only have five reasons to leave home from 11.59pm – the original proposed end date of the lockdown – including shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and education, care and caregiving, exercise (for up to two hours and with one other person), and getting vaccinated/tested.

However, the travel radius will be increased to 10km and Year 11 and 12 students will be able to return to face-to-face learning.

Lockdown restrictions will lift in regional Victoria, with retail settings to open, including hairdressers, beauty salons and the hospitality sector. But private household gatherings will not be permitted.

All students in regional Victoria will return to classrooms from tomorrow. Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton yesterday said the lockdown would be reviewed day-by-day and he had "great confidence" the restrictions could ease by the end of next week.

READ MORE: Why is it always Victoria?

Professor Collignon said it was normal for case numbers to be relatively higher earlier in the outbreak before they begin to taper off and decrease.

"I hope we see decreasing numbers over the next week," he said.

"It is possible it may not go for seven days, depending if no community cases are found that are unlinked or mystery cases because they're a real concern."

The 'Kappa' variant of the virus was behaving similar to other strains, despite it being described as a "beast" by health officials, Professor Collignon said.

"There's some unanswered questions still but, overall, it's behaving like most clusters we've had, most outbreaks," he said.

"It looks like it's coming under control. It's not under control yet, but all the indications are good."

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Premier Daniel Andrews, who is on medical leave due to a back injury, last night broke his silence on the tough lockdown measures, urging Victorians to "keep fighting".

"Just because we've had to do this before, doesn't mean it's easy to do again. Some of us will be tired. Some stressed. Some sick to the back teeth of this pandemic. Maybe a mix of all three," he said on Twitter.

"Please know that every individual effort you made today, and everything you'll do tomorrow and every day after will save lives."

NSW authorities say they are confident they can prevent a coronavirus outbreak the the state after an infected Victorian family visited several locations on the south coast before testing positive to the virus.

NSW Health issued a new alert last night amid news the family was potentially infectious in NSW between May 19 and 24.

Anyone who visited the potential exposure sites in Goulburn, Gundagai, Huskisson, Jervis Bay and Vincentia have been advised to monitor for symptoms and get tested.

The state didn't record new local cases again today, despite the alerts.

LIVE UPDATES: All the latest breaking news on Melbourne's coronavirus lockdown

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Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said a crisis Cabinet meeting was held yesterday and he was confident NSW could avoid a lockdown like in Victoria.

"From time to time, over the course of the next 12 months, there are going to be outbreaks right across the country," Mr Perrottet told Today.

"We understand this is a dual crisis, a health and economic crisis. If you look globally the virus is not going away, there is significant economic cost and we can't continue to have the Federal Government bail out states."

Mr Perrottet said the Federal Government's financial assistance for Victoria should be measured.

"Let's keep people safe and get the vaccination rolling out as quickly as possible and let's be very conscious of the fact there are substantial economic impacts of lockdowns and the costs we spend today will be paid back for generations to come," he said.

The Cooked Goose Café in Hyams Beach is one of the NSW South Coast locations visited by the infected family.

Owners Madison Behringer and her husband Riley Hooper told Today they were alerted on Tuesday night their café was a potential exposure site.

"We had to jump straight into action at about 9.30 on Tuesday night," Ms Behringer told Today.

READ MORE: Victoria's COVID-19 exposure sites spiral past 350

"Yesterday definitely there was quite a bit of panic but just listening to business owners in Victoria, we've had it pretty good I think."

She said the local community was pulling together and lining up to get tested and so far, tests had come back negative.

Infectious disease expert, Professor Peter Collignon agreed NSW would be able to get control of the coronavirus threat on the South Coast.

"I think it's not likely that it will get out of control. I mean, look at NSW's track record. They've had much bigger cases before," Professor Collignon told Today.

He said people using QR code check-ins and contact tracing have been a more successful approach in the past than putting a whole state in lockdown.

"NSW is a prime example, if you have good contact tracing, a cooperative public, lots of testing, doing what they're supposed to do, decreased crowds when you know there might be some things in the community, that has been very successful so far and one would hope it will continue to be successful," he said.

"On top of that, we've got people being vaccinated."

READ MORE: Lockdown extended in Melbourne for seven days

Victoria recorded six new local cases yesterday and three today, taking the cluster total over 60, as Melbourne's lockdown was extended for another seven days.

"It is possible it may not go for seven days, depending if no community cases are found that are unlinked or mystery cases because they're a real concern," Professor Collignon said.

"Yes, there may be cases in the community we haven't found. But so far the numbers are doing what you normally would expect if you've got case finding, good cooperation with the public, lots of testing."

A herd of 15 elephants has wreaked havoc in China, trampling crops and causing more than $1 million of damage, after the animals escaped from a nature reserve last year.

The elephants have made a 500km journey through the south-western province of Yunnan from the nature reserve in Xishuangbanna to Yuxi, a city of 2.6 million people, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, according to state news agency Xinhua.

It is unclear why they left their nature reserve home, but on their travels, the elephants have caused 412 separate incidents of damage, with financial losses amounting to around $1.4 million, Xinhua reported.

READ MORE: Poacher trampled to death by elephants while fleeing rangers

They destroyed 56 hectares of farmland in the counties of Yuanjiang and Shiping alone, the agency said.

The creatures have also caused significant disruption to locals.

Last Thursday, residents were told to stay indoors and pedestrians and vehicles evacuated in the town of Eshan after the elephants roamed the streets for six hours.

Authorities established a 24-hour command centre to monitor the animals after they were seen in the Hongta District of Yuxi on Monday, with more than 360 people, 76 police cars and dirt trucks and nine drones mobilised for the task, and 18 tonnes of elephant food prepared.

No casualties have been reported, according to Xinhua.

READ MORE: What being in the middle of a herd of wild elephants feels like

Monitoring images show the herd is comprised of six female adults, three male adults, three sub-adults and three calves.

Asian elephants are the largest land mammal on the Asian continent, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

They are considered a protected species in China, and around 300 of them live in Yunnan, according to Xinhua.

Widespread rainfall is expected to hit Australia's east coast today, paving the way for more wild, wet weather next week.

The heavy showers will impact communities from southeast Queensland all the way down to South Australia from today right through to next Thursday at least.

Meteorologists say the conditions are due to a large upper-level cut-off low pressure system which will move over Australia's southeast in coming days.

LIVE UPDATES: All the latest breaking news on Melbourne's lockdown

The heaviest of that weather system will hit the east coast between Tuesday and Friday next week before moving further towards the Southern Ocean.

A high-pressure system is keeping most other locations dry.

Sydney will see tops of 18C today while Melbourne and Queensland will have tops of 17C and 22C respectively.

Adelaide will have a top of 17C while Canberra will not go past 14C.

READ MORE: Which state had the coldest start to Winter?

Elsewhere, Hobart will have top of 16C while Perth will be 21C and Darwin will be a warm 32C.

The east coast's wet weather comes after a week of icy conditions saw records break for the coldest May days in decades.

From RNZ Whakaari/White Island was smothered in grey, on December 9, 2019.A super-heated, highly-acidic eruption tore across the crater without warning.Ash concealed huge landmarks – helicopter landing pads, an old sulphur…

From RNZ The 13 parties charged by WorkSafe in the aftermath of the deadly Whakaari eruption are due back in court today.There were 47 people on the volcano when it erupted on December 9, 2019, most of them international tourists….

A crash is blocking one lane on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway and delays are expected.The crash is in the right lane citybound just prior to St Lukes Rd.Waka Kotahi asked motoroists to pass with care and be prepared for delays….

The owner of a small sunflower oil factory in Bulgaria has accused US soldiers of illegally storming his facility during a NATO military exercise last month.

Marin Dimitrov told reporters on Wednesday that he had filed a lawsuit against those responsible for the May 11 incident.

Swift Response 2021 was a US Army-led multinational exercise held across Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania and involving more than 7,000 paratroopers from 10 NATO countries.

READ MORE: Stunning vision as drone crashes into erupting volcano

During the drill, members of the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade simulated seizing and securing the decommissioned Cheshnegirovo Air Base in southern Bulgaria by clearing bunkers and other structures, a US Army statement said.

On May 11, American soldiers entered and cleared a building next to the airfield that they thought was part of the training area but turned out to be occupied by Bulgarian civilians operating a private business, according to the statement.

"No weapons were fired at any time during the interaction," the Army statement said.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said it was "absolutely unacceptable to have the life and calm of Bulgarian citizens put at risk by military units, be they part of the Bulgarian or foreign armed forces."

"Exercises in Bulgarian territory involving our allies should boost the sense of security and trust in collective defence, instead of causing tension among Bulgarians," Mr Radev said.

The US Embassy in Bulgaria offered apologies to the business and its employees.

"We always learn from these exercises and are fully investigating the cause of this mistake," the embassy said in a statement.

"We will implement rigorous procedures to clearly define our training areas and prevent this type of incident in the future."