USAupdated 1h ago3 min read
Nearly 12-Foot Alligator Kills Steven Hamilton, 71, While Fishing in Winter Garden, Florida
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Steven Hamilton, 71, killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator while fishing at Dr. Bradford Park. Incident occurred Friday evening at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden.
Hamilton dragged into water
A nearly 12-foot alligator dragged Steve Hamilton, 71, into the water and killed him while he was fishing at a pond in Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden, Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Winter Garden police Capt. Michael Mason said, "Lake Apopka has tons of alligators in it, so that's not uncommon to see alligators in this part of town at all," and he said the fisherman was on shore at the time of the attack.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said an 11-foot, 8-inch alligator was trapped and removed from the scene, and the attack happened at about 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the victim as Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden, and Winter Garden police and fire crews responded around 5 p.m. after a 911 call.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene, and it said a contracted nuisance alligator trapper removed and killed an 11-foot, 8-inch alligator believed to be the one involved in the attack.
Rescue hampered by other gators
Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza said the rescue effort was hampered by other active alligators in the water nearby, and he said Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.
NBC News reported that emergency personnel relayed reports that witnesses had seen someone possibly grabbed by an alligator and pulled into the water, according to a recording radio traffic.
Winter Garden police Capt. Michael Mason told reporters, "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."
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission said serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, and it said it “extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time.”
The Winter Garden Police Department confirmed the incident in a statement, and it added that FWC authorities trapped and killed the roughly 12-foot-long alligator.
FWC tracks fatalities and bites
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Hamilton is the second person to be killed by an alligator in Florida this year, after Brittany Clark, 31, was killed while swimming in Little Big Econ State Forest near Orlando. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said there were 13 attacks last year in Florida, including eight major attacks, two of which were fatal, and it said there have been 32 fatal alligator attacks in Florida since they began keeping track in 1948. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said there have never been more than three fatal attacks in a year, and it said the two fatal attacks in 2025 included Cynthia Diekema, 61, and Deborah Herndon, 73.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it places the highest priority on public safety, and it said residents who believe an alligator poses a threat can call FWC’s nuisance alligator hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). Winter Garden police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating the attack, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said serious alligator injuries remain rare in Florida.