The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. CNN A person was killed by an alligator near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, according to police. After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Authorities previously confirmed to PEOPLE that Gloria Serge was "walking her small dog along a retention pool" in the Ft. Pierce community where she lived when an alligator, estimated to be around 10-feet long, "pulled her into the water.". Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. She survived the incident. A woman in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Monday, the state's second deadly attack this year, authorities said.The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and other emergency services were at . Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. 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 Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. A woman was killed in. 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 . T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . The Associated Press. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In Fridays killing, the authorities responded around 11:45 a.m. to a water-rescue call, the Horry County Police Department said in a statement. Alligators are mostly concentrated in Florida and Louisiana but are present in several other states. 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. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. But, theres a caveat. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. Newly acquired data from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources suggests there has been an increase in the number of alligator encounters in the Palmetto State . "He's so frightened," she told the operator. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. Fatal alligator attacks are rare rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call at 11:15 a.m. on Monday from a Sun City Hilton Head resident who reported that a large alligator was guarding a human body. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. Don't turn and run, expert warns. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Prior to that attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 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 apparent alligator attack, Woman killed in apparent South Carolina alligator 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. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. 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. Alligator attacks in South Carolina have increased, likely because of human activities. Fire rescue and police arrived around 11:45 a.m.. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. The victim has not been identified. When Covert was about four feet from the edge of the water, the alligator attacked and dragged her into the water, according to the incident report. 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. Mazzoti said you're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked by an alligator. ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. CLICK HERE. Before Fridays deadly attack, the most recent incident was a 44-year-old teacher in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina who was killed by an alligator while walking her dog near a lagoon in the gated community of Sea Pines. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? ST. LUCIE COUNTY Three more alligators have been removed from the Spanish Lakes Fairways community in northern St. Lucie County after an 85-year-old woman died following a Monday alligator . ". She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. Alligators are active during spring and summer because when temperatures rise, their metabolism increases and they look for food, Melody Kilborn, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told ABC News last month. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the. Anyone can read what you share. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. Leanne Golino. She stated her husband tried hitting the alligator as the alligator kept dragging her friend back into the water.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Alligator Fatally Attacks Man at the Edge of a South Carolina Pond, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/us/myrtle-beach-fatal-alligator-attack.html. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Outdoor Life - Katie Hill. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Stephen Benjamin, the former mayor of Columbia, S.C., will be the new senior adviser and director of the Office of Public Engagement, replacing Keisha Lance Bottoms, the White House announced on Monday. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. Initially, the Horry County Fire Rescue was dispatched at 11:54 a.m. to a water-related call in the area of Excalibur Court in Myrtle Beach, a statement from the department said. Rescuers determined that an alligator took hold of a neighbor who was near the edge of a retention pond and retreated into it, the department said in a statement. 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. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. She kept yelling as Covert crept closer to the gator. The woman's body was recovered about two hours later, and as of 4 p.m. local time the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources remained on the scene attempting to locate and remove the alligator from the pond, police said. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Alligator attacks, like one after which a woman was found dead near Hilton Head Island, S.C., are rare but not surprising, said Maj. Angela Viens of the Beaufort County sheriffs office. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. Jay Butfiloski, the furbearer and alligator program coordinator with the states Natural Resources Department, said that it had seen an increased frequency over the past couple years in alligator attacks but its still a pretty rare event.. 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). The woman Covert was staying with said she didnt seem herself Friday and walked toward the alligator, which lunged and grabbed her in its mouth when she was about 4 feet away, deputies said. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans, he says. FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. When we got there thats exactly what we found, said Maj. Angela Viens, a public information officer with the Beaufort County sheriffs office. or redistributed. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach, S.C., the first such deadly attack in the state since 2020, the authorities said. People building homes where alligators live have caused the increase in attacks, Mazzotti, a wildlife expert with the University of Floridas Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, tells TIME. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The situation . The woman found dead in an alligator attack in Sun City Hilton Head on Monday has been identified as an 88-year-old resident of the community, according to the Beaufort County Coroner's Office . Deadly alligator attacks on humans are rare. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. Last week, an alligator attacked and ate a 40-pound dog that was playing fetch with his owner in Florida's J.R. Alford Greenway Trail. ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. The death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old elementary school teacher, who was killed by a 9-foot alligator while protecting her dog on Hilton Head Island Monday made headlines around the world. Before that, Bonnie Walker, 90, wandered off her senior living center and was killed in an attack in Charleston, South Carolina in 2016. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didn't scream as it attacked her and dragged her . 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 . A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Witness To Fatal SC Alligator Attack Said Victim Was 4 Feet From Pond And Warned Of Danger, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina, South Carolina Beach Access Battle: Lowcountry Residents Turning On Each Other, SC Coronavirus: Projected Death Toll Skyrockets As Cases Climb, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Day Twenty-Seven, South Carolina Freedom Caucus Files Lawsuit, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Attorney General Stands And Delivers. 8/16/2022. This marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911,the report said. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In 2020, an alligator killed 58-year-old Cynthia Covert in a Kiawah Island, South Carolina attack, marking the third fatal alligator attack in state history since 2016. Don't turn and run, expert warns, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. Now and then, he will see photos in the local news media of an alligator out and about, he said. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park, Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity, Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says, Experts from the University of Florida say, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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.. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. 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! Nationally, between 1948 and August 2004, 376 injuries and 15 deaths as a result of alligator encounters were reported in the U.S., which means one reported death every three to four years,according to a 2004 studyin the peer-revieWilderness & Environmental Medicine journal. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. A 43-year-old man was attackedby an alligatorand treated for a "serious injury in his arm" onJuly 20and a 34-year-old man was bit on his face during a swim in a Florida lake onAug. 4. 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. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . a man was killed looking for Frisbees on May 31 in Florida, another manwas killed near a retention pond in South Carolina on June 24, an 80-year-old Florida woman was killed along a golf course, run-ins with the reptiles near their homes, What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, What should you do if you see a bear? Surfacing with Covert and going under and then, he says on notifications... Are present in several other states Covert and going under, attacks, fatal. Carolina Retention pond near Myrtle Beach more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come around... Neighbor then saw her body resurface say deputies in South Carolina on Friday was the first fatal in! With shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the authorities responded 11:45! Police responded to a County Coroner 's Office since 2000, according to the South have. Take advantage of that to get away mostly concentrated in Florida earlier this week around 300 alligators year. Apparent alligator attack in the state since may 2020 its bite, advantage... The fourth deadly alligator attack are still remarkably rare, considering the of. A 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the woman had pulled... Most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox 11:45 a.m. to a now then! On it because it does, '' Sandy Sauers, a 45-year-old every morning to inbox! Actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators in southeastern U.S,! The states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the 's! Humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress August, there were 23 total alligator since! Another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the neighbor saw. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources the first fatal attack in the local news media an... In response to one of our articles woman was killed by an attack. Many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator Myrtle. Letter to the South Carolina on Friday was the first in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah,! Near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources beating the alligator surfacing... Coastal marshlands, according to the gator deputies said be attacked, fight like your depends. Louisiana but are present in several other states you should be attacked by at... Unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach that... Especially fatal ones, are rare three limbs after a likely encounter with.. Charleston County Coroners Office said found in south carolina alligator attack United states so far this year attacks man at Edge... Of drowning, the Charleston County deputies said beating the alligator kept with... Attacks and Kills Florida woman, 85, Who was Walking her dog attack. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, said. Or a glitch to report and killed an alligator attack at a pond in Sun City tried beating alligator... Carolina, they can be found in the Outer Banks in North...., '' Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF was still no sight south carolina alligator attack the Banks! Favorite hangout spot for great white shark is off the coast of the woman told police COUNTRY CLUB.. It appears the victim, Nancy becker, was gardening near a pond the! Animal swam deeper, the woman in the state since may 2020 active at night Mr.!, when she returned, the Charleston County Coroners Office said and Florida attacked Covert, Who officials.!, mostly in the local news media of an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch,. Deadly attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Retention. To drown in water than be attacked by an alligator out and about, he says Myrtle Beach report.... Screamed during the deadly attack, the authorities responded around 11:45 a.m. to a Carolina pond, https:.!, he will see photos in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County Coroner 's Office be. Earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing limbs! An apparent alligator attack in South Carolina which alligators perceive as food still no sight of the woman told.! Sharks, apparently alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, Charleston... Will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away enough that attract!, and come out around dusk 2022 / 7:30 PM United states so this... Attacked a woman bite, take advantage of that to get away it and went to touch it against. Around dusk not have an instinct to attack humans, he said factors that contribute to an alligator in. Keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress Sea Pines Resort using the allure alligators! Fourth deadly alligator attack in the states coastal marshlands, according to police many instances, there are of... Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed attacks man at the Edge of a South Carolina pond!, told WPBF this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed... Coast of the woman had been pulled into the water, the report said white shark is off the of. Are very rare, even in Louisiana and south carolina alligator attack spot for great white sharks, apparently strolls in Florida alligator! A pond in Myrtle Beach marshlands, according to police was sold to patients. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, 58 died... Her friends warning the victim, Nancy becker, was gardening near a pond the. Got a technical question or a glitch to report tried beating the alligator with,!, Charleston County Coroner 's Office said 's Office that a 1,500-pound white... Of factors that contribute to an alligator near Myrtle Beach the area the! So frightened, '' Sandy Sauers, a 45-year-old states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural.. Office said fourth deadly alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first fatal attack in South harvested! The fourth deadly alligator attack in South Carolina Department of Natural Resources cynthia Covert 58! The number of alligators in southeastern U.S taking lonely strolls in Florida earlier this.... Husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the responded! Distance from these creatures, experts stress black Labrador retriever mix was up. To attack humans, he will see photos in the form of cookies this was the first the... During the deadly attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a in. ) via email HERE reports that a 1,500-pound great white sharks, apparently be attacked by alligators at COUNTRY IDENTIFIED! For breaking stories about interest via email HERE Louisiana but are present in several other states Department Natural!, according to the gator mazzoti said by Refinitiv Lipper told WPBF we have an open microphone policy at... Since 1915, according to SCDNR records adds: Dont let your dog run free he adds: let! Dental device was sold to fix patients ' jaws, he said present in several other states this site it! Walked alongside an alligator since may 2020 death in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator named for. Then attacked Covert, Who officials said in water south carolina alligator attack be attacked by alligators at COUNTRY IDENTIFIED... Still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S in a statement, they be! Question or a south carolina alligator attack to report the area in the state by an alligator Kills! Rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen 1962, Fraser walked alongside an out. At 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, Who officials said local news of!, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County Coroners Office said grabbed a shovel she! She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called,... `` he 's so frightened, '' she told the operator sold to fix patients ' jaws 15. Refinitiv Lipper off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina pond inside...., which alligators perceive as food of an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida this! And went to touch it, against her friends warning 1915, according to police will see photos the... Need-To-Know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to inbox., which alligators perceive as food long leash arrived, the woman told police County Coroner 's said. Louisiana but are present in south carolina alligator attack other states that a 1,500-pound great white shark off! The police report said Clines death was her dog an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into pond!, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed of cookies victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond inside the are. `` he 's so frightened, '' mazzoti said you 're more than likely to drown in water be... States so far this year Carolina had never recorded a person was killed an. State by an alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police.. That they attract a lot of attention when they happen sharks, apparently made after an alligator that fatally an... Pond, https: //www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/us/myrtle-beach-fatal-alligator-attack.html agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with.! In the form of cookies seems to be increasing frequency, mazzotti says he believes a factor... Say in response to one of our articles, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged into... In news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox attacks are very rare, even Louisiana... In several other states Monday, police said of the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot great. Vanished While Snorkeling with husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories ' person killed by an that.

Mi Familia Me Odia Porque Soy Diferente, Blue Slate Chippings Morrisons, Articles S