A woman was tragically killed on Sunday after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming with friends in the Econlockhatchee River in Central Florida. The victim, Brittany Clark of Orlando, was swimming near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest when the incident occurred. She was taken to a hospital as a trauma alert but died from her injuries on the way. The alligator, believed to be a "very large" 13-footer, bit off Clark's arms during the attack.
The deadly attack was the second alligator incident in 24 hours in Central Florida and the third in the region in a week. A 911 call detailed the frantic moments after the attack, with a caller pleading for help as Clark lost a lot of blood. The call was made after Clark's boyfriend and another friend pulled her to shore and started CPR before first responders arrived.
Authorities have issued urgent warnings about alligators that have come to associate people with food, stating that these animals must be immediately removed from the wild. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time. An investigation is ongoing, with multiple agencies and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper responding to the scene.
A "very large 13-foot alligator" was harvested from the area of the incident, and officials warned that the current mating season makes alligators very territorial. Another 11-foot alligator was also harvested from the same area. The fatal attack came one day after a child was bitten in the hand by an alligator while fishing from shore in Marion County, and a week after a snorkeler was bitten by an alligator in the Rainbow River.
Serious injuries from alligators are rare, but the agency warns that alligators are active across Florida, especially during courtship and mating season in spring and early summer. Florida is home to about 1.3 million alligators, and the animals live in all 67 counties. The agency places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property.
Individuals with concerns about an alligator can call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline, and the agency will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. The agency also provides safety recommendations, including keeping a safe distance from alligators, keeping pets on a leash and away from the water's edge, and never feeding an alligator. Feeding alligators can lead to them losing their natural wariness and instead learning to associate people with food, making them a nuisance that needs to be removed from the wild.
