A 31-year-old woman died after an alligator attacked her in the Econlockhatchee River in central Florida on June 30, 2026. The incident occurred as the woman, her boyfriend, and a friend were hiking and stopped to cool off in the shallows of the river, located in Little Big Econ State Forest about 20 miles northeast of Orlando.
During a 911 call, the woman's boyfriend reported that the alligator had attacked her, tearing off both of her arms. He told emergency dispatchers he was attempting to pull her arms away from the animal. The boyfriend and the friend managed to drag the woman out of the water. She was transported to a hospital but died en route.
Authorities responded to the scene and found two alligators, measuring 12 feet and 13 feet long, which were later subjected to DNA testing to determine which animal was responsible for the attack. The Barr Street Trailhead, near where the incident took place, has been closed until further notice.
This attack is the third alligator-related incident reported in central Florida in the week prior to this event. A previous attack occurred at Rainbow River in Merriam County, and a child was injured in a separate incident in the same county on the Saturday before the fatal attack. While alligator attacks on humans are described as rare by the Florida Wildlife Commission, the animals are known to be more territorial during their mating season, which typically runs from April through June.