Alligator nearly 12 feet long kills 71-year-old fisherman at a Florida lake
Steven Hamilton, 71, was killed Friday, Oct. 16, by an alligator at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park on Lake Apopka in Winter Garden, Florida, CNN and WFTV reported. Police said the attack came around 5 p.m. Witnesses said he was holding up a bass for a photo when the alligator grabbed his leg. Other alligators in the water delayed rescuers, the fire chief said. His body was recovered about two hours later. Trappers killed the alligator, reported as nearly 12 feet long. It was Florida’s second fatal alligator attack this year.
Fatal attacks are rare, but Florida has a large alligator population and many people fish and walk along the same shorelines. Fall is a time when people are still out on the water in warm weather.
If you fish in Florida lakes, standing back from the water’s edge and not lingering with a catch at the shoreline reduces risk. Report large alligators near parks to state wildlife officials.
Wildlife officials and local reports emphasize that fatal attacks remain rare and that the animal was removed quickly.
Coverage by CNN and Local 12 centered on how other alligators in the water kept rescuers from reaching him for a time, and on the two hours it took to recover his body.
Confirmed: the victim, place and time. The alligator’s exact length differs slightly across reports. Watch for any change in signs or access at the park.
DailyDrop U.S. No. 14 · October 18, 2026