A 31-year-old woman from the Orlando area has unfortunately succumbed to severe injuries and died on Sunday after a rare alligator encounter. The attack took place while she was swimming in the Econlockhatchee River (also known as the Little Big Econ or Little Econ River) in Central Florida.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest. The victim was hiking with her boyfriend and her best friend when the group stopped to beat the afternoon heat and cool off in the river. Reports indicate that they were kneeling in approximately three feet of water when the alligator suddenly bit her on both arms, inflicting severe injuries.
In an effort to release her from the animal’s grip, her boyfriend attempted to pull her from the alligator’s mouth and called 911 for help once he was able to free her. Once medical help arrived on the scene, she was transported to a nearby hospital as a trauma alert but succumbed to her injuries while en route.
Following the fatality, FWC officers, along with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper, responded to the scene. The trailhead entrance was closed off with caution tape as investigators remained on site for several hours, utilizing boats and UTVs to scour the scene.
It wasn’t until yesterday that FWC officers reported that they had captured and euthanized two large alligators from the immediate area. One measured 13 feet and was captured exactly at the incident scene, while the other was a near 12-foot specimen taken a short distance away. DNA samples from both alligators have been sent to a lab in Gainesville to determine if one was responsible for the fatal attack.
The area features warning signs about alligators, and frequent hikers noted that a large female alligator is often seen in the vicinity, particularly near a possible nesting spot. Locals generally advise against entering the water.
“I come here all the time fishing with my friends,” local resident Leo Estupinan said. “I’ve seen a couple big ones, probably a 12-foot gator. That’s kind of scary ... the water is super dark there, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it caught them completely off guard.”
This marks the third reported alligator attack in Central Florida in the past seven days and the second within roughly 24 hours at the time of the incident. While serious alligator attacks remain rare in Florida, this now marks the second fatality in as many years after a kayaker was killed by a gator on Lake Kissimmee last May.
As of right now, the victim’s identity has not been released and FWC is indicating that this is still very much an ongoing investigation.
