A Florida fisherman, 71, was killed Friday on a lake by a nearly 12-foot alligator, the second fatal attack reported this year.
The Winter Garden Police Department announced that Steven Hamilton was standing on the shore of Lake Apopka at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, 15 miles northwest of Orlando, when he was attacked around 5 p.m. local time.
Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35 the presence of other active alligators in the water complicated any chance of rescuing Hamilton, whose body was recovered about two hours later.
According to The Associated Press, police Capt. Michael Mason said authorities were not alerted in advance that an alligator was near the lake’s shore, possibly because it “has tons of alligators in it.”
He added police launched a joint investigation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose trappers captured and killed the alligator.
Brittany Clark, a 31-year-old Oviedo woman, was killed by a 13-foot alligator near her home in June.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
