A 31-year-old woman died Sunday after an alligator attack in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ state forest in Seminole County, roughly 25 miles northeast of Orlando. The attack severed one of her arms and proved fatal despite immediate rescue efforts.
The victim was swimming in approximately 3 feet of water when the attack occurred. Her boyfriend, who was with her, attempted to pull her from the alligator's mouth. She was transported to a hospital but died from her injuries en route.
A 911 recording obtained by NBC News affiliate WESH captured the urgency of the moment. "Both her arms are dislocated, off basically," a caller reported. "One arm is completely off."
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials removed two alligators from the river, measuring 12 feet and 13 feet in length. Both were euthanized, and their remains were sent for DNA testing to confirm involvement in the attack. The woman, a resident of Orlando, has not been publicly identified pending notification of all family members.
FWC public information officer Chad Weber described the incident as "incredibly tragic" and characterized the pair's activity as innocent. "They were hiking and they just stopped to swim," he said. "It doesn't seem they were doing anything malicious."
Rare but recurring threat
Fatal alligator attacks in Florida remain uncommon. The FWC tracks encounters involving the state's estimated 1.3 million alligators and reported an average of about eight unprovoked bites annually. Since 1948, only 26 fatalities have been recorded.
The attack occurred during an unusual period. Low water levels resulting from an extended drought may have concentrated both humans and alligators in shallower areas. Additionally, the end of mating season typically makes alligators more territorial and aggressive, Weber noted.
The timing also coincided with a series of other incidents. Twenty-four hours earlier, a boy fishing with his father near Nelson's Fish Camp in Marion County was bitten on the hand. An 8-foot-7-inch alligator was removed and killed. A week prior, an 8-foot-3-inch alligator bit a man snorkeling in the Rainbow River in Dunnellon. That victim was treated and released.
The deadly attack recalled the 2016 death of two-year-old Lane Graves at Walt Disney World, who was snatched from Seven Seas Lagoon while on vacation. Disney subsequently upgraded warning signage and reviewed safety protocols at the resort.
Weber emphasized that residents and visitors must recognize the persistent danger. "We have alligators in all 67 counties," he said. "Every body of water could have the potential to have an alligator. There is some risk when you swim." He indicated the full investigation into Sunday's fatality would take additional time and that multiple factors may have contributed to the outcome.
Author James Rodriguez: "This isn't the first time low water has pushed predators and people into dangerous proximity, and it won't be the last as Florida's drought cycle continues."
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