On Friday, October 16th, a 71-year-old man was tragically dragged into a pond by a nearly 12-foot alligator while fishing in Winter Garden, Florida.
The victim was identified as Steve Hamilton by officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The attack occurred around 5 p.m. at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden, which features several small ponds connected to the larger Lake Apopka, known for its alligator population. There is even a footbridge in the park named “Alligator Bridge.”
Michael Mason, the Captain of the Winter Garden Police Department, mentioned that there are many alligators in Lake Apopka, so encountering alligators in the area is not uncommon.
During the incident, the victim was pulled into the water by the alligator from the shore.
The FWC stated that the 11 feet 8 inches alligator responsible for the attack was captured, removed from the scene, and euthanized.
Mason emphasized the importance of being aware of the surrounding environment, staying safe, respecting local wildlife, and keeping a safe distance from potentially dangerous animals.
Hamilton became the second person in Florida in 2026 to die from an alligator attack.
In June, 31-year-old Brittany Clark was attacked and killed by an alligator while swimming near Little Big Econ State Forest in Orlando. Her boyfriend and friends attempted to rescue her, but she tragically passed away. The 911 call recording revealed the severity of the attack, with reports of losing an arm and significant blood loss.
In response, the FWC captured and euthanized a 13-foot alligator and another 12-foot alligator in the vicinity. DNA tests confirmed that the 13-foot alligator was responsible for her death.
Despite Florida having hundreds of thousands of alligators, alligator attacks remain relatively rare. According to FWC statistics, there are typically a dozen or so attacks on humans each year, excluding the 23 incidents that occurred in 2022.
In 2025, there were 13 alligator attack incidents in Florida, with 8 classified as major attacks. Two of these incidents resulted in fatalities: Cynthia Diekema, 61, was attacked and killed while canoeing in Polk County in May, and Deborah Herndon, 73, was found dead in a residential pond in Pinellas County in December.
Since records began in 1948, Florida has experienced a total of 32 fatal alligator attacks.
(This article references reports from CBS News, the Associated Press, and WCJB.)