Daijiworld Media Network - Florida
Florida, Jul 1: A 31-year-old woman was killed after an alligator attacked her while she was wading in a river at a state forest near Orlando, Florida, wildlife officials said.
The victim, identified as Brittany Clark of Orlando, was hiking with her boyfriend and her best friend in the Little Big Econ State Forest on Sunday when the trio entered the Econlockhatchee River to cool off.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the group was kneeling in about three feet of water when the alligator suddenly attacked at around 1.30 pm, severely injuring Clark by biting both her arms.
Clark's boyfriend reportedly tried to free her from the animal's jaws while calling emergency services. A recording of the 911 call captured frantic pleas for help, with the caller telling the dispatcher that one of Clark's arms had been torn off while the other was barely attached.
Despite rescue efforts, Clark succumbed to her injuries before she could be taken to hospital.
FWC Lieutenant Grant Eller said authorities could not immediately determine what triggered the attack but noted that alligators are highly territorial during the breeding season. He also pointed to low water levels caused by drought, which may have increased encounters between humans and wildlife.
Following the incident, wildlife officials and a licensed trapper captured two alligators measuring 13 feet and 12 feet near the attack site. DNA samples have been collected to determine which animal was responsible.
In a statement, the FWC extended its condolences to Clark's family and loved ones.
Clark's boyfriend described her as "the strongest and most outgoing person" he had ever known, adding that she loved spending time on the water and that the tragedy was unimaginable.
The attack occurred near the Barr Street Trailhead, which has since been closed to the public.
Wildlife officials reminded residents and visitors that alligators are found in all 67 counties of Florida and urged people to avoid entering natural bodies of water where the reptiles may be present.
Although serious alligator attacks remain rare, the incident marked the third reported alligator attack in Florida within a week. Authorities are also investigating another incident in which a boy was reportedly bitten by an alligator while fishing in Marion County.