Brittany Clark, 31, from Orlando, was killed by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River within Little Big Econ State Forest, about 25 miles northeast of Orlando, on Sunday. Her boyfriend, Chance Allison, fought desperately to free her but she succumbed to her injuries.
Attack Details
The couple had stopped to cool off in water barely three feet deep during a hike when the alligator attacked. In 911 audio, Allison reported catastrophic injuries, stating that "both her arms are dislocated – off basically," adding that one arm had been torn away entirely. A medical examiner later confirmed that the alligator performed a "death roll," a violent spinning maneuver used to subdue prey.
"While they were swimming, an alligator grabbed [Ms Clark] by her arm and began the 'death roll,'" the report states. "Her boyfriend Chance grabbed the alligator, trying to get it to release her when it took them both underwater."
Rescue Efforts
Allison managed to free her arm "for a moment" before the alligator seized her other arm. "Chance attempted to bring them both to shore when the alligator finally let go and CPR was started on shore by her boyfriend, and 911 was called," the report adds.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesman Chad Weber said the pair were not doing anything malicious. "They were in approximately 3ft of water. She was bitten on both of her arms. The boyfriend was the one that made the phone call. He was trying to get her from the alligator's mouth, and on the way to the hospital she did pass away from her injuries."
Aftermath and Statistics
Authorities removed and euthanized two alligators—measuring 12ft and 13ft—from the river and sent them for DNA testing. Weber offered condolences but declined to identify the victim. The FWC records an average of approximately eight unprovoked alligator attacks annually. Since 1948, there have been just 26 fatal alligator incidents in Florida. The state is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators.
