Bodycam footage released by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office shows a deputy's desperate attempt to save Brittany Clark, 31, who was fatally mauled by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest, about 25 miles northeast of Orlando, on Sunday.
Attack Details
Clark, from Orlando, was swimming with her boyfriend Chance Allison, 30, and a friend when the attack occurred. Officials said the group stopped for a swim during a hike. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesperson Chad Weber told reporters on Monday that the attack took place in approximately 3 feet of water. "It doesn't seem they were doing anything malicious," he said.
In the harrowing clip, the deputy runs through a wooded area to the riverbank, where the victim appears under a tent. The deputy is seen taking out a tourniquet to apply to her wounds before the footage ends, according to the Mirror US.
911 Call
Clark's boyfriend, Chance Allison, told a 911 operator: "Both her arms are dislocated - off basically ... one arm is completely off." Screaming and crying could be heard as Allison, 30, pleaded for help, saying he was "still trying to get her arms away from the alligator's mouth" and urging emergency services to hurry because she was "losing a lot of blood."
A woman, understood to be Clark's friend, described the injuries as "terrible" and said both arms were "off, like basically."
Fatal Outcome
Weber said: "She was bitten on both of her arms. The boyfriend was the one that made the phone call. He was trying to get her from the alligator's mouth, and on the way to the hospital, she did pass away from her injuries." He added: "We offer our condolences to this young lady's family," without disclosing the victim's identity.
Alligators Captured
Authorities captured two alligators measuring 12 feet and 13 feet from the river. The reptiles were euthanized and sent for DNA testing, Weber said.
Tribute
In a text message to NBC News, Allison said: "Brittany was such an amazing and caring person and didn't deserve to go out in such a way." He added: "She was the strongest and most outgoing person I've ever met in my 30 years of life."
Alligator Attacks in Florida
The FWC reports an average of about eight unprovoked alligator bites each year. Since 1948, there have been just 26 fatal alligator attacks in Florida, which is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators.
