Brittany Clark, 31, has been identified as the victim of a fatal alligator attack near Orlando, Florida, on June 28. The reptile, estimated between 12 and 13 feet long, dragged her underwater in a 'death roll' and tore off both her arms, according to a medical examiner's report and 911 calls.
Attack During a Hike
Clark was hiking with her boyfriend Chance Allison and an unnamed best friend when they stopped at the Econlockhatchee River. The group waded into three-foot-deep water around 1:30 pm, when the alligator suddenly clamped its jaws onto both of Clark's arms.
Her boyfriend desperately tried to free her, but the alligator tore off one arm and left the other hanging by a thread, as described in the 911 call. Wildlife official Grant Eller, a lieutenant with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, stated that Allison was 'trying to get her arms away from the alligator's mouth' when he called emergency services.
911 Call Reveals Horror
In the recording obtained by NBC News, Allison can be heard screaming and crying. A woman tells the dispatcher: 'Ok, both her arms, both her arms, both her arms are off, like, basically.' When asked if her arms are still attached, the woman explains: 'One of them is, like, very hanging on [by a] thread, and the other was off.' The dispatcher asks where the other arm went, and the woman replies: 'Gone.'
Further screams are heard as the pair try to flag down rescuers. Clark died before reaching a hospital, according to Eller.
Alligator's 'Death Roll'
The medical examiner's report revealed that Clark and her boyfriend were dragged underwater into a 'death roll' — a technique alligators use to drown and disorient prey. Allison managed to briefly free Clark, but the alligator bit down again on one arm.
Two alligators were later 'harvested' near the scene by a professional trapper, measuring 13 and 12 feet long. DNA samples have been sent for analysis to identify the attacker.
Multiple Incidents in Central Florida
This attack is one of several in central Florida within the past week. Alligators become particularly aggressive after mating season, which concludes in late June. Officials warn hikers and swimmers to stay alert near waterways.
