Florida authorities have identified the alligator responsible for the fatal mauling of hiker Brittany Clark by matching bite marks on her body to the reptile's teeth. The incident occurred on June 28 in the Econlockhatchee River within the Little Big Econ State Forest.
Clark, 31, was with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and friends when they stopped to swim. While in approximately three feet of water, a 12-foot alligator grabbed her left arm. According to a preliminary report from the Orange County medical examiner, the alligator then began a "death roll" in an attempt to subdue its prey.
Allison intervened in an effort to save Clark, but the alligator dragged them both underwater. It released Clark momentarily before biting her other arm. The report indicates that Clark sustained a partially severed left arm and an open fracture on her right arm during the attack.
Following the attack, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trappers captured and killed two alligators, measuring 12.5 and 13 feet, respectively. DNA samples were sent to a lab for analysis. The head of the 12-foot alligator, identified as the attacker, was preserved for potential use in determining the cause and manner of death.
Clark was able to be brought back to shore, where emergency responders found a faint pulse. She was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead at 2:48 p.m. on June 28.
Clark, originally from California, was remembered by her loved ones as someone who cherished the outdoors and human connection. "Brittany was wonderful, she was very outgoing and had a great outlook on life. She was always striving to do better," her father, Robert Clark, told The Post. Allison described her as an "outgoing" person who loved spending weekends on the water through activities like powerboarding, kayaking, and boating.