Brief
71‑year‑old fisherman killed by alligator on Lake Apopka
The attack occurred at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park; the gator was later captured and killed.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Steven Hamilton, 71, was attacked by a 12‑foot alligator while fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park on the shore of Lake Apopka, central Florida, on Friday evening, according to the New York Post.
Witness Beatrice Soto said Hamilton held up his catch for a photo when the gator seized his left leg and pulled him into the water. The animal later resurfaced, allowing Hamilton to surface briefly before submerging again. Hamilton, also a musician, suffered blunt‑force injuries to his left leg and drowned, with coroners ruling the death accidental.
Medical examiners noted suspected teeth marks on the leg. Recovery crews retrieved the body at about 7 p.m., roughly two hours after the attack, despite the lake’s estimated 4,600 alligators complicating the effort. Florida Wildlife Commission officials trapped and killed the gator, which measured just under 12 feet.
The incident marks Florida’s second fatal alligator attack this year, following a June attack on Brittany Clark, 31, in the Econlockhatchee River that resulted in severe arm injuries. State data show 32 fatal alligator attacks between 1948 and 2025, with all 67 counties hosting an estimated 1.3 million gators.
Key facts
- Steven Hamilton, 71, was killed by a 12‑foot alligator while fishing at Lake Apopka. (nypost.com)
- The attack occurred on Friday evening; his body was recovered around 7 p.m. (nypost.com)
- Florida Wildlife Commission officials trapped and killed the alligator after the incident. (nypost.com)
- This is the second fatal alligator attack in Florida in 2026. (nypost.com)
- State records show 32 fatal alligator attacks from 1948 to 2025. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Harrowing new details emerge in death of Florida fisherman savaged by 12-foot alligator on banks of popular lake”
