Deputies respond to Florida alligator attack
Body camera video shows a Seminole County deputy responding to an alligator attack in Little Big Econ State Forest on June 28. The victim, Brittany Clark, 31, died after being taken to the hospital as a trauma alert.
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A Florida woman’s DNA has been linked to that of a 13-foot alligator that was captured after a deadly attack in a river last month, wildlife officials have confirmed.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC), laboratory tests confirmed that the DNA of Brittany Clark, 31, is the same as the 13-meter alligator that was captured after a fatal attack in the Econlockhatchee River on June 28.
Clark, of Orlando, was swimming near the Barr Street Trailhead in Little Big Econ State Forest when he was attacked. He was taken to the hospital for a trauma report but died from his injuries on the way, officials said.
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Brittany Clark was attacked and killed by an alligator in the Econlockhatchee River, officials said. (Brittany Clark via Facebook)
According to a preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office obtained by Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV, Clark was swimming in shoulder-deep water with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and another friend when the alligator grabbed her arm and began what investigators described as a “roll of death.”
“[Allison] He grabbed the crocodile and tried to free it [Clark] … when he took them both were released under water [Clark] for a while then he grabbed her other arm,” said the report.
When the alligator got loose, Allison brought Clark to shore and called 911, the report said. A short body camera video captured a Seminole County deputy responding to the attack.
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Brittany Clark, whose death prompted renewed warnings from Florida wildlife officials about alligator safety, is shown in an undated photo. (Brittany Clark via Facebook)
A crocodile’s “death roll” is when the reptile latches onto a potential victim and violently spins it through the water to subdue or dismember it, according to the National Institute of Health.
After the attack, FWC trappers captured and killed two large alligators — a 12.5-foot and a 13-foot gator — and sent their DNA to a lab to determine which animal killed Clark.
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Brittany Clark is pictured on a boat. Clark died after an alligator attacked him while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River in Central Florida, officials said. (Brittany Clark via Facebook)
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According to the FWC, bite marks found on Clark’s arm were consistent with the front row teeth of a 13-foot alligator found in the river.
“FWC’s investigation into this incident is ongoing,” the agency said.
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Serious crocodile attacks remain rare
The FWC said serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, although alligators can be found in lakes, rivers, ponds and other freshwater bodies in all 67 counties.
Officials said they did not speculate on what led to the attack but noted that the crocodiles may be more territorial during their mating season, which usually runs from April to June.
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A few safety recommendations for people who come into contact with an alligator, according to the FWC: “Keep a safe distance” and “keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge.”
“Pets are often the natural prey of crocodiles,” officials warned. “swim in designated swimming areas only during the day and without your pet. Crocodiles are most active between dusk and dawn.”
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Also, “never feed an alligator; it’s illegal and dangerous.”
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“If fed, alligators can lose their natural awareness and instead learn to associate people with food availability,” FWC said. “This can lead to the crocodile becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.”
People with alligator concerns should call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR.
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Fox News Digital’s Eric Mack contributed to this report.
