Florida Fisherman Dies in Alligator Attack at Lake Known for Dangerous Wildlife

A 71-year-old Florida fisherman was killed by a 12-foot alligator on Friday afternoon at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, a pond connected to Lake Apopka in Orange County. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to a 911 call around 5 p.m. and found over a dozen alligators at the scene. First responders reported that removing the victim's body, identified as Steve Hamilton, was difficult due to the presence of the animals.

"Lake Apopka has tons of alligators in it, so that's not uncommon to see alligators in this part of town at all," Winter Garden Police Captain Michael Mason told CBS 12 News. The alligator involved in the attack was trapped and killed by the FWC.

Hamilton's death marks the second fatal alligator attack in Florida this year. In June, 31-year-old Brittany Clark was killed while swimming in the Little Econ River in the Little Big Econ State Forest near Orlando. Her boyfriend and a friend attempted to save her, but were unable to pull her from the water before she sustained fatal injuries. Authorities reported that an alligator bit off Clark's arm, leading to significant blood loss.

According to the FWC, serious injuries from alligators are rare, but the potential for conflict exists due to Florida's growing human population, which leads to more frequent interactions with wildlife. Last year, Florida recorded 13 alligator attacks, two of which were fatal. These included the deaths of Cynthia Diekema, 61, who was killed while canoeing in Lake Kissimmee in May, and Deborah Herndon, 73, who was killed in a residential pond in Pinellas County in December.

Captain Mason urged Florida residents to remain aware of their surroundings and maintain a safe distance from wildlife. "Always be aware of your surroundings, always be safe. Local wildlife, respect it, keep your distance. It looks like it's docile, it looks like your Florida emblem, but it can be dangerous," he advised.