Brittany Clark, 31, from Orlando, died after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest on Sunday. Her partner, Chance, made frantic efforts to save her but she succumbed to her injuries on the way to the hospital.
Attack Details
According to a medical examiner's report, the alligator grabbed Clark by the arm and began a "death roll," pulling both her and Chance underwater. Chance managed to free one arm briefly, but the alligator seized the other arm. He brought her to shore and began CPR while calling 911.
In the 911 audio, Chance is heard saying, "Both her arms are dislocated - off basically," and "One arm is completely off." He pleaded for help, stating she was "losing a lot of blood."
Authorities Respond
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesperson Chad Weber said the pair were hiking and paused for a swim in about 3 feet of water. "It doesn't seem they were doing anything malicious," he said. Officials captured and euthanized two alligators, measuring 12 and 13 feet, for DNA analysis.
Weber expressed condolences to the family but did not reveal the victim's identity at the time.
Rarity of Attacks
The FWC reports an average of eight unprovoked alligator bites per year. Since 1948, only 26 fatal alligator attacks have occurred in Florida, which is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators.
