Seventy-one-year-old killed by alligator while fishing in Florida

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 14:57 · Archive

A 71-year-old man was killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator while fishing at Lake Apopka in Winter Garden, Florida on Friday.

Steven Hamilton, aged 71, was fatally attacked by a nearly 12-foot alligator on Friday afternoon whilst fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park on the shoreline of Lake Apopka, 15 miles northwest of Orlando. The alligator dragged him into the water. Emergency crews were called at around 5 p.m. Other active alligators in the water complicated rescue efforts. Hamilton's body was recovered at 7 p.m. The 11-foot, 8-inch alligator was trapped and removed from the scene, then killed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trappers.

Winter Garden Police Captain Michael Mason told reporters that the police department had not been alerted to any alligator sightings prior to the attack, but noted that alligators are common in the area. 'Lake Apopka has tons of alligators in it,' Mason said. He issued a warning to the public: '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.'

According to CBS News, Hamilton is the second person to be killed by an alligator in Florida this year. Alligator attacks remain relatively rare despite hundreds of thousands of the animals living in the state.

How it is being reported

• Florida fisher dragged into water and killed by 12ft alligatorSteve Hamilton was fishing in Winter Garden when he was attacked by gator, which was later killed A man fishing at a pond in Florida was killed on Friday by an alligator that was almost 12ft long in a rare kind of animal attack, according to authorities and media reports. Steve Hamilton, 71, was on the shoreline in the community of Winter Garden when the animal dragged him into the water, the Florida news outlet WOFL reported , citing local police and the state’s fish and wildlife conservation commission. Continue reading...The Guardian · 17 Oct, 16:23
• Alligator kills 71-year-old man fishing at pond in FloridaThe man was dragged into a pond and killed by the alligator, according to authorities.CBS News · 17 Oct, 14:38
• Fisherman, 71, killed by 12-foot alligator while he stood on shorelineA 71-year-old man was fatally savaged by a 12-foot alligator while fishing on the shoreline in Florida on Friday afternoon. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the victim as Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden, according to FOX35. Emergency crews rushed to the scene at around 5 p.m. after Hamilton was mauled by the...New York Post · 17 Oct, 13:27

In this story: Steven Hamilton · Winter Garden · Lake Apopka · Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · Dr. Bradford Memorial Park · Orlando

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem