A 31-year-old woman from Orlando died after being attacked by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River in Seminole County's Little Big Econ State Forest, about 25 miles northeast of Orlando. The incident occurred on Sunday, with the victim's arm severed during the attack.
Attack Details and Witness Account
The woman's boyfriend witnessed the attack and attempted to free her from the alligator's grip. A 911 call obtained by Orlando's NBC affiliate Wesh described the severity: "Both her arms are dislocated – off basically. One arm is completely off." Chad Weber, public information officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), stated, "He was trying to get her from the alligator's mouth. On the way to the hospital, she did pass away from her injuries."
Alligator Removal and Investigation
Authorities removed and euthanized two alligators, measuring 12 feet and 13 feet, from the river. DNA testing is underway to determine which animal was responsible. Weber noted that the couple was hiking and stopped to swim in about 3 feet of water. "It doesn't seem they were doing anything malicious," he said.
Rarity of Attacks in Florida
FWC reports that unprovoked alligator bites average about eight per year, with only 26 fatalities since 1948. The state is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. Earlier in June marked the 10th anniversary of the death of two-year-old Lane Graves, who was killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World resort. Sunday's attack followed two other incidents: a boy bitten on the hand while fishing in Marion County, and a man bitten while snorkeling in Dunnellon.
Safety Warnings and Ongoing Investigation
Weber emphasized vigilance near water: "We have alligators in all 67 counties. Every body of water could have the potential to have an alligator. There is some risk when you swim." The investigation into the fatality continues, with Weber citing low water levels and mating season as potential factors. "With the low water levels that we have, we are coming into the end of mating season. The alligators become very territorial," he said.
