A 31-year-old woman, identified as Brittany Clark, died on Sunday after a 12-foot alligator attacked her while she was swimming in the Econlockhatchee River in Florida's Little Big Econ State Forest. The predator reportedly tore off both of her arms during the incident.
Clark was with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and a friend when they decided to swim in the river shortly after 1:30 p.m. According to a medical examiner's report, the alligator attacked Clark by grabbing her arm and initiating a "death roll," a maneuver used by the reptiles to subdue prey by twisting them underwater. Allison reportedly intervened, attempting to free Clark from the gator's jaws. The alligator then grabbed her other arm.
Allison managed to get the gator to release Clark's arm momentarily, but it reattached its jaws to her other limb. He then attempted to pull both of them to shore. The alligator eventually released its grip, and CPR was administered by Allison while 911 was contacted. Screaming and distress were audible in the 911 audio recording, with Allison reporting that both of Clark's arms had been severed and that one was "hanging by a thread." Her friend informed the dispatcher that the other arm was "gone."
Allison described the situation as "bad, real bad" and urged emergency responders to hurry. He stated he was trying to keep Clark's arms away from the alligator's mouth and that she was losing a significant amount of blood. The alligator eventually retreated. Clark was pulled from the water with the help of her friend, but she could not be saved.
Following the attack, officials located the 12-foot alligator and killed it. Its head was removed for evidence. The Barr Street Trailhead, a popular hiking route near the attack site, has been closed indefinitely. Clark's social media showed she was an outdoor enthusiast who frequently posted photos of hiking and swimming.
This incident marks the third alligator attack in central Florida within the past week. A previous attack occurred at Rainbow River in Merriam County, and a child was injured in another incident in the same county the day before Clark's death.
The Florida Wildlife Commission notes that while alligator attacks on humans are rare, the animals can become more territorial during mating season, which typically runs from April through June.