Authorities in Florida are investigating after a 71-year-old man was killed by an alligator while fishing near a pond in Winter Garden. Steve Hamilton was attacked on Friday evening when the reptile, measuring nearly 12 feet, dragged him into the water, according to local reports citing police and state wildlife officials.
Emergency crews responded to the scene around 5:20 p.m. after a 911 call but faced difficulties in their rescue efforts due to the presence of other alligators in the area. Hamilton’s body was recovered from the water a few hours later. The alligator involved in the fatal attack was subsequently euthanized by wildlife conservation officers.
The pond, which is connected to Lake Apopka, is known to have a significant alligator population. Winter Garden Police Chief Michael Mason noted that while such attacks are rare, residents should remain vigilant. “Alligators may seem docile, but they can be dangerous,” Mason advised, encouraging people to be aware of their surroundings.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there have been 34 recorded alligator-related fatalities in the state since 1948. This incident comes less than four months after a similar attack in Seminole County, where 31-year-old Brittany Clark was killed by a 13-foot alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River.