A 71-year-old man has died after being attacked by an alligator while fishing at Dr Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden, Florida.
Emergency crews were called to the park at about 5.20pm on Friday, 16 October, following a 911 report that a person had been attacked in the water, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza said.
Rescuers faced difficulties reaching the man because other alligators were still active nearby. His body was recovered from the water at around 7pm.
Winter Garden Police Chief Michael Mason later confirmed that the victim, who lived locally, had died. Authorities said a 12ft alligator thought to have been involved in the attack was trapped, captured and killed.
Alligator attack at Winter Garden park
Police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating the circumstances of the death.
Dr Bradford Memorial Park, at 220 West Division Street, has access to Lake Apopka and includes fishing facilities. The lake is known for having one of the largest populations of American alligators in central Florida.
Florida’s wildlife authorities say American alligators can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, swamps and marshes across all 67 counties. Human attacks are considered rare, but the animals are capable of causing fatal injuries.
The incident comes months after a 31-year-old woman died following an alligator attack while swimming in a river at Little Big Econ State Forest, in a separate incident in central Florida.
