A 71-year-old man fishing on the shore of Lake Apopka in Florida was attacked and killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator on Friday, marking the second fatal alligator attack in the state this year.
Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden was at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, approximately 15 miles northwest of Orlando, when the alligator attacked around 5 p.m., according to the Winter Garden Police Department. The presence of other alligators in the water complicated rescue efforts, and Hamilton's body was recovered about two hours later, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35.
The incident followed the June death of Brittany Clark, a 31-year-old woman killed by a 13-foot alligator near her home. Following Clark's death, Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube introduced a resolution urging the Comptroller General and the U.S. Department of the Interior to examine the impact of the American alligator's "threatened due to similarity of appearance" listing on Florida's ability to manage nuisance alligators in waterways. Steube noted that the American alligator population has been fully recovered since 1987 but remains protected to prevent trafficking and the hunting of the similar-looking American crocodile.
FILE - An alligator peers from the water's surface at the Circle B Bar Reserve, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Polk County, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
According to Florida state data, Hamilton's death brings the total number of fatalities from alligator attacks since 1948 to 34. Previous fatal incidents include a 61-year-old woman who was tipped out of her canoe by an alligator in 2025 and an 85-year-old woman who was dragged from her backyard by an alligator while walking her dog in 2023.
Police Captain Michael Mason stated that authorities were not previously aware of any alligator activity near the shoreline, attributing this to the lake's high population of the reptiles. A joint investigation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is underway, and trappers with the commission captured and killed the alligator involved in the attack.
"Always be aware of your surroundings. Always be safe," Mason advised. "Wildlife: Respect it. Keep your distance. It looks like it’s docile, it looks like your Florida emblem, but it can be dangerous."