Florida Woman Killed by Alligator While Swimming in Shallow River Near Orlando

A 31-year-old woman was killed Sunday after an alligator attacked her while she swam in the Econlockhatchee River in Seminole County, Florida, officials confirmed at a Monday news conference.

The victim had been hiking with her boyfriend and best friend at the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest, about 20 miles east of Orlando. The group stopped to swim in the river in water approximately three feet deep when the attack occurred around 1:30 p.m. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the incident and has opened a formal investigation. The victim's identity has not been released, as officials are still working to notify out-of-state family members.

The Attack and the 911 Call

The alligator bit the woman on both arms. Her boyfriend called 911 while attempting to pull her free from the animal.

FWC spokesperson Chad Weber described the scene at Monday's news conference. "The boyfriend was the one that made the 911 call. He was trying to get her from the alligator's mouth."

The nearly 12-minute 911 recording captures a witness telling a dispatcher: "Somebody got bit by a gator. Bad. Real bad. Please hurry." Later in the call, the witness reported that "she's losing a lot of blood." Witnesses were able to move the woman away from the alligator before emergency responders arrived. She was transported to a nearby hospital and died from her injuries.

Maj. Jay Russell with the FWC called the incident "incredibly tragic." The agency said in a statement: "The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time."

Two Alligators Captured, DNA Testing Underway

FWC officers and contracted nuisance alligator trappers responded to the area and captured two alligators near the attack site. One measured 12 feet in length; the other measured 13 feet. FWC noted that 13 feet is considered a very large alligator. DNA testing is underway to determine which animal was involved.

The Barr Street Trailhead will remain closed until further notice, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Little Big Econ State Forest.

Elevated Risk During Mating Season

FWC officials said they cannot identify the exact reason for the attack, but pointed to seasonal conditions that increase the likelihood of alligator encounters.

"With low water levels that we have, we are coming into the end of mating season. Alligators become very territorial. So it's any number of things," FWC Public Information Officer Chad Weber said. FWC Investigator Lt. Grant Eller added: "Being this time of year, what we know from gator activity, they are highly territorial after mating season."

Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators distributed across all 67 counties. Late spring and early summer mark the end of the state's alligator breeding season, when animals range more widely and defend territory more aggressively. Low water conditions concentrate alligators in smaller stretches of water, increasing the odds of an encounter. While serious alligator bites are rare given the size of the population, summer months represent the peak period of human-alligator contact in the state.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises residents and visitors never to swim outside of designated swimming areas in fresh water, to avoid the water at dawn, dusk, and nighttime when alligators are most active, and to keep children and pets away from water's edge in areas where alligators are known to be present.

Reporting Concerns to FWC

Floridians who observe an alligator they believe is posing a threat to people, pets, or property can contact FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). The agency manages reports through licensed trappers who evaluate each situation individually.

The Econlockhatchee River runs through Seminole and Orange counties and is a popular destination for hiking, kayaking, and swimming. As summer outdoor activity increases across Florida, the FWC urges awareness of the wildlife risks present in the state's natural water bodies alongside the more commonly discussed dangers of heat and sun.

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