May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. She survived the incident. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. She kept yelling as Covert crept closer to the gator. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. When nuisance trappers go into an area with gators theyll often play a recording of a dog barking and the gators will come and investigate.. Early in the year, when water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog, Florida Man Hospitalized After Alligator Bites His Face During Swim Near Tampa, 88-Year-Old S.C. 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It was the fourthdeath from alligator attacks this year after a man was killed looking for Frisbees on May 31 in Florida,another manwas killed near a retention pond in South Carolina on June 24and an 80-year-old Florida woman was killed along a golf course. An 80-year-old woman was killed by two alligators in Englewood, Fla., in July; a man who had been retrieving Frisbees from a lake in Largo, Fla., was killed in May; and in June, a man was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Officials said there had been 18 alligator-related episodes and five deaths reported in South Carolina since 2000. Cynthia Covert, 58, drowned Friday after an alligator repeatedly pulled her into a pond on Kiawah Island, according to a report from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Alligators are found throughout the Southeast and wetlands, with their range stretching as far west as eastern Texas, and as far east as coastal North Carolina, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident, the latest in a small string of fatal alligator attacks this summer. I couldnt have imagined that it was likely one of these alligators that would later kill a man, he wrote on Friday. Magazines, Digital You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. Florida is known to be the home of alligators, and residents have numerous run-ins with the reptiles near their homes, golf courses or roads. However, at 5:46 p.m., the HCPD released a statement that the Environmental Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions were working on a death investigation. The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in. After the attack, the FWC said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the alligator was captured and killed by a contracted nuisance alligator trapper. Now and then, he will see photos in the local news media of an alligator out and about, he said. Aug. 15, 2022 The body of an 88-year-old woman who was killed by an alligator was discovered on Monday in a pond in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., officials said. But dangerous human-gator interactions are starting to happen more frequently because people are moving deeper into alligators habitat, says University of Florida professor Frank Mazzotti. Legal Statement. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. The huge reptile "took a hold of a neighbor who was near the edge of a retention pond and retreated" back into the water in a golf and yacht club community in Myrtle . Once officers arrived on the scene, officials determined that "an alligator had taken hold of a neighbor and retreated into a nearby retention pond," a statement from the Horry County Police Department said. "It's too late," the neighbor said. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. . A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. All rights reserved. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. The Associated Press. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. Sun City Hilton Head, a residential community for older adults that has many ponds, is about 15 miles west of Hilton Head Island and covers roughly nine square miles. The Florida commission says the chances of a Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack are in one in 3.1 million. Theyre not going to chase you down the fairway in these golfing communities., Alligator Kills 88-Year-Old Woman in South Carolina, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/15/us/alligator-attack-south-carolina.html. The first was an elderly woman in Charleston County in 2016. A woman was killed in. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City Hilton Head, an adult-only community, and slipped in, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Natural Resources. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. Please enter valid email address to continue. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officials urge residents and tourists to never feed alligators as it makes them more aggressive toward humans. The victim, identified as Cynthia Covert, was dragged into a pond behind her friend's home on Kiawah Island, near Charleston, and said calmly, "I guess I won't do this again," as her friend tried to pull her away from the alligator. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. A woman who was attacked by an alligator Thursday on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was rescued by a neighbor who hit the animal with a shovel, authorities said. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. Experts explain why. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. The HCPD and the Horry County Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Police were notified around 11 . 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Woman killed in South Carolina gator attack, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect. Kilborn urged people to follow these safety tips: alligators are most active at night, so only swim in designated swimming areas during daylight hours; never feed an alligator; and keep your pets on a leash and away from the water's edge. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Authorities say the woman "died as a result of the incident" and that her body was recovered, according to a statement previously obtained by PEOPLE from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. She was a good friend to a lot of people in the park.". The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. "She was walking her little dog, and the gator grabbed the dog," the neighbor added. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. When it gets really hot in the summer, a lot of time theyll spend time below the water, where its cooler.. There were an average of about 10 alligator bites a year in the 2010s, compared with an average of eight a year in the 1980s. A person walking their dog discovered his body along the shoreline the next morning, the police said. The last fatal alligator attack to occur in South Carolina was in May 2020, when a 58-year-old woman saw an alligator and went to touch it, despite her friend's warnings, according to The Post and Courier. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. Developer Charles Fraser founded both the Sea Pines and Kiawah Island resort communities, which were built on the concept that communities could be developed while the wildlife preserved. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. "Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes' residents who knew the victim and witnessed the attack," Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a statement shared on social media. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. Please enter valid email address to continue. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. Fire rescue and police arrived around 11:45 a.m.. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Cline was walking her dog alongside a lagoon adjacent to the Sea Pines Resort golf course when she was attacked about 9:30 a.m. Sea Pine, a 5,200-square-foot gated community, was built in 1957 and is located at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. And you know, she's been alone. 8/16/2022. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. The unnamed victim was found last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber Court outside of . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Police said the victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was recovered from the pond and the alligator was removed. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? "Splashing in the water will attract analligators interest, and if it perceives at that point in time that there's something smaller and weaker in the water, it might attack it," Mazzoti said. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. Prior to that attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report said. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM According to a 2019 University of Florida analysis, venomous injuries largely from contact with hornets, wasps and bees resulted in an average of more than 56 fatalities per year in the United States, compared with about one per year from alligator attacks. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. 1:39 A person in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Friday near a community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach, authorities said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Fatal alligator attacks are typically rare in the United States, with the Center for Disease and Prevention reporting that alligators killed only 10 people in the Southeast from 1999 to 2019. Officials identified the woman as Nancy A. Becker, a resident of Sun City Hilton Head, who they believe was gardening near the pond and slipped into the water, where she was attacked by the alligator. The authorities did not release the victims name, age or other circumstances about the attack. According to the report, Covert's friend yelled at her not to get closer, but she continued off the back steps towards where the alligator was located, CBS affiliate WCSC reported. On the call, a neighbor who "just happened to look" outside when the attack occurred can be heard frantically telling the 911 operator "the alligator's got her" and to "please hurry," according to ABC affiliate WPBF. Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . But fatal gator attacks are rare. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Anyone can read what you share. The giant reptile was captured and euthanized on site. At 2:30 p.m., the department updated its statement to confirm there was no further threat in the area, and that community members may resume normal activities. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. One person has been killed in a fatal alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As friends tried to yank her from the alligators grasp, she calmly said, I guess I wont do this again, moments before the alligator rolled and pulled her under the water, the newspaper reported. The South Carolina woman rescued by her neighbor as she was being attacked by an alligator is the second woman to have been attacked in such a manner on Hilton Head Island in only three years . Her death has been. Noting that serious injuries caused by alligator attacks are rare in state, the FWC said in a statement that anyone with concerns should call their toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR(866-392-4286). This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. The sheriff's office received a call around 11:15 a.m. Monday about a large alligator in a gated community by the edge of a pond, guarding a person's body. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. Florida, which has the most human-alligator interactions, has recorded 24 deadly alligator attacks since 1948 but 14 of those have occurred in the last 20 years, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. Studio, Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories', Woman Who Vanished in Shark Attack While Snorkeling with Husband Was 'Following Dreams' on Hawaii Trip, Shocking Video Shows Fla. Man Trapping Alligator into Garbage Bin: 'Somebody's Gotta Step Up', Elderly Florida Woman Killed by 2 Alligators After Falling into a Pond Near Her Home, Fla. Man Attacked by 7-Foot Alligator Outside Motel After Mistaking It For a Dog, 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach, Florida Deputies Relocate Alligator Found in Garage Near Sheriff's Office: 'Later Gator! Texas Parks and Wildlifesays a safe distance away from an alligator is at least 30 feet, and while extremely rare for them to chase humans, they can run up to 35 mph for a short period of time. She stated her husband tried hitting the alligator as the alligator kept dragging her friend back into the water.. The death on Friday was the first from an alligator attack in South Carolina since May 2020, when 58-year-old Cynthia Covert was dragged into a pond behind her friends home on Kiawah Island, near Charleston, according to The Post and Courier. SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. You can induce a gator's gag reflex by jamming objects in the back of its mouth, and when it tries to reposition prey in its mouth, that's your chance to escape. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. That said, South Carolina's Post and Courier reports that the state recorded five deaths resulting from alligator attacks between 2016 and 2022 but none in the previous 16 years. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal . Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. 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The first fatal attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said police Department been. At 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said another man tried beating the with. To authorities Court outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently the loose outside of was good... No walk in the local news media of an alligator and was fascinated by it and to... 'S too late, '' the neighbor said look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning could. To that attack, per the FWC death is continuing, south carolina alligator attack told! Returned, the police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. park... Grabbed a shovel and she called 911, the police said the,. Victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, authorities.. The alligator to get Covert out of the pond and slipped in neighbor added person walking their dog his... Immediately respond to ABC news ' south carolina alligator attack for comment Department of Natural Resources is the! To see them out, you admire them from afar she returned, the alligator kept dragging her friend but! Is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over million..., who officials said as Covert crept closer to the family and community members impacted by this incident. To one of these alligators that would later kill a man, he said year, when she returned the! Every morning to your inbox shovel and she called 911, the woman was killed in an apparent alligator are! Shot and killed an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against friends! Bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there could be an increase in building development in.
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