Steven Hamilton, 71, was fishing along the shoreline when a nearly 12-foot alligator attacked and pulled him into the water.
WINTER GARDEN, FL — A 71-year-old man was killed Friday after a nearly 12-foot alligator attacked him while he was fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park near Lake Apopka, authorities said.
Florida wildlife officials identified the victim as Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden. Emergency crews were called to the park on Oct. 16 after receiving reports that a fisherman had been attacked. Officials said Hamilton was along the shoreline when the alligator grabbed him and pulled him into the water. His body was later recovered as police, firefighters and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers worked at the scene.
The alligator believed responsible for the attack measured 11 feet, 8 inches, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A contracted nuisance alligator trapper removed and euthanized the animal after the attack. Authorities said the presence of other active alligators in the area complicated efforts to reach Hamilton in the water.
Winter Garden emergency crews began responding at about 5 p.m. Friday, according to local officials. Hamilton’s body was recovered later that evening. Police said he had been fishing from the shore of a pond at the park, which sits near Lake Apopka, a large Central Florida lake where alligators are commonly seen.
Witness Beatrice Soto told WFTV that Hamilton had caught a bass shortly before the attack and was holding the fish when the alligator came from the water. Other people who regularly visit the area told local news outlets that large alligators are frequently seen near the shoreline. Authorities have not announced whether Hamilton or anyone nearby had noticed the animal immediately before the attack.
Winter Garden officials said alligators are common around Lake Apopka. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says American alligators are found throughout the state, including in all 67 counties. The agency describes serious injuries caused by alligators as rare, despite frequent contact between people and wildlife around Florida’s lakes, rivers, canals and wetlands.
Hamilton’s death was the second fatal alligator attack reported in Florida in 2026. In June, 31-year-old Brittany Clark of Orlando died after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming with others in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest in Seminole County. Wildlife officials later said DNA testing connected a 13-foot alligator removed from the area to that attack.
Fatal alligator encounters remain uncommon when compared with the number of people who live and recreate near Florida waterways. The Associated Press reported that Hamilton’s death brought the number of fatal alligator attacks recorded in Florida since 1948 to 34. State wildlife officials maintain a nuisance alligator program that uses contracted trappers to respond when specific animals are believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.
The attack drew renewed attention from people who regularly fish and walk near Lake Apopka. Some visitors told local television stations they hoped officials would examine whether additional measures were needed around the park. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said serious alligator injuries remain rare, while local officials emphasized that people near the lake should expect alligators to be present.
Winter Garden police and state wildlife officials continued examining the circumstances surrounding Hamilton’s death. Police also sought information from anyone who witnessed the attack as authorities worked to establish a fuller account of what happened at the shoreline.
Author note: Last updated October 18, 2026.