A 71-year-old fisherman in Florida has died after an alligator grabbed him by the leg and dragged him into a lake. Steve Hamilton was fishing at Dr Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden on Friday when the attack occurred.
Hamilton had just caught a bass and was holding it up for a photograph when the alligator appeared. Witness Beatrice Soto told WFTV: “He caught a bass. He held it up for whoever it was to take a picture of him, and the gator came up and grabbed him by the leg and pulled him in.” Hamilton was dragged into the water and did not resurface.
Emergency Response and Recovery
Emergency crews were called to the park at around 5pm, and Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was later recovered from the water. According to WFTV, he had suffered a severe injury to his leg and drowned.
A contracted nuisance alligator trapper later removed an 11ft 8in alligator from the area, according to wildlife officials. The animal was subsequently killed.
Tributes to a Community Figure
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said: “The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time.”
Hamilton regularly fished at the park and was well known in Orlando's music community, having spent almost 40 years as a member of the Bone Brothers Band. Connor Kelly, who sometimes fished alongside him, told NBC News: “Instantly just devastated. My stomach dropped because I was so worried it was Steve. He was a very kind man, very relatable.”
Christine Pompilio, managing partner of Jax's 5th Avenue, where Hamilton had performed, told WFTV: “He was just such a kind soul, kind-hearted man, very generous with his time. I think he’ll be really missed in the community.”
Local Awareness and Investigation
Alligators are a familiar sight around Lake Apopka, with locals saying some can come close to people near the water. Jason Handley, who had previously spoken to Hamilton, told WFTV: “They’ll come right up to you.” He also said he had seen them come up alongside him at the water before, adding: “I always thought that maybe Winter Garden would’ve taken an alligator that size away from a spot like this.”
The FWC says alligators can be found in all 67 counties in Florida, although serious injuries caused by them are rare. The Winter Garden Police Department and the FWC are investigating the incident.
