Police Identify Alligator Responsible for Fatal Attack
Police have tracked down and identified the 12-foot alligator that mauled and killed 31-year-old Brittany Clark while she was swimming in a Florida river. The reptile was identified by matching bite marks on Clark's arm to its teeth, according to a preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner obtained by the New York Post.
Details of the Attack
Clark was killed on June 28 while hiking with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, friends, and dogs in the Little Big Econ State Forest, northeast of Orlando. As the group stopped to take a dip in three feet of water, the alligator lunged and grabbed Clark's arm, dragging her into a death roll—a violent spinning maneuver used to overpower prey.
Allison desperately tried to pull Clark away and was dragged into the water himself. The alligator briefly released Clark but attacked again, biting her other arm before retreating. Allison managed to pull Clark to the riverbank, but she had suffered catastrophic injuries. Her left arm was partially severed, and her right arm sustained an open fracture consistent with a death roll.
Friends called 911, and emergency crews rushed to the scene. Medics found a faint pulse, but Clark died en route to the hospital, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She was pronounced dead at 2:48 p.m.
Identification and Euthanasia
Wildlife officers captured and euthanised two large alligators believed to have been involved—one measuring 12.5 feet and the other 13 feet. DNA samples were taken from both animals. Examiners concluded that the jaws of the smaller alligator matched the bite marks on Clark's arm, identifying it as the perpetrator.
The medical examiner's report stated: 'A row of teeth on the gator head is consistent with teeth marks on the left arm.'
Distressing 911 Call
CCTV footage shows a police officer sprinting through bushes to reach Clark. A distressing 911 call captured a caller telling the dispatcher: 'Bad, real bad please, hurry… she's losing a lot of… please hurry…' When asked about the severity of the injuries, the caller replied: 'Horrible. Both her arms are dislocated… off basically… one arm is completely off.'
Tributes and Context
Clark's death was the third fatal alligator attack in Florida within seven days, with two deaths occurring within 24 hours in Central Florida. Posting on Facebook, Allison paid tribute: 'I'm just still in disbelief of what took place. We had so many things planned out and memories to be made. You were such a special person and did not deserve to go out in such a way. I love you and don't worry about Shady and Hokie. I'll take care of them forever,' referring to Clark's two dogs.
