Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. 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. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. The deadly attack, in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., was at least the fourth in the country this year. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. 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. All Rights Reserved. An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. 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 South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. 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. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the. "And then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and he passed away. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. "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. The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. Then, the gator bit his leg. In an extremely rare event, a South Carolina woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday on Kiawah Island, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. "Anytime you show up next to water, you're assuming some risk Don't tempt it.". It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. "She was walking her little dog, and the gator grabbed the dog," the neighbor added. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The HCPD and the Horry County Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. 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. Before that, Bonnie Walker, 90, wandered off her senior living center and was killed in an attack in Charleston, South Carolina in 2016. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . In an extremely rare event, a South Carolina woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday on Kiawah Island, according to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office . A woman was killed in. 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? June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. It appears she was gardening near a pond in an adult-only . Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. Leanne Golino. The body of a man who had been retrieving Frisbees from a lake in Largo, Fla., which serves as a habitat for alligators, was found on May 31. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. Anyone can read what you share. 8/16/2022. A biologist and a contracted alligator removal service from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources determined the alligator should be humanely euthanized on site, according to police. Anyone can read what you share. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. Magazines, Digital ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. 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. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. "I can't see her.". Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. Experts explain why. 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. His recommendation for anyone who does get attacked by an alligator: Fight like your life depends on it., Poke the gator in the eyes and try to ram your hand down its throat, he advises. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. CLICK HERE. 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. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. "She fell down and [it] took her.". Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. She was a good friend to a lot of people in the park.". The Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. Benjamin previously served as Columbia's mayor from 2010 to 2021 and currently sits as the CEO and president of the Benjamin Firm, LLC. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. A man has died after an alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 24, 2022. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . 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 . You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. 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. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM Such attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest one on Friday was the second in less than a month. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. 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. By Christian Boschult
[email protected] Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. The victim was identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, ABC News reports. 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 . 1:39 A person in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Friday near a community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach, authorities said. CNN A person was killed by an alligator near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, according to police. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. All rights reserved. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. First responders were then able to pull the womans body from the water. Don't turn and run, expert warns. The situation . Alligator attacks are rare, fatal ones even rarer. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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 into the water, according to a police report. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. Fire rescue and police arrived around 11:45 a.m.. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. 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. 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. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. 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. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. Market data provided by Factset. Coverts friend yelled to not get any closer, but Covert continued off the back steps towards to where the alligator was, the report said. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. 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. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. 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. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said, the second fatal attack in the state in 2022 and at least the fourth nationwide this year. 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. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . 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. A biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and an alligator-removal contractor determined that the animal needed to be humanely euthanized on site, the police said. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Got a tip for a story? However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. Outdoor Life - Katie Hill. 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. 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. Deadly alligator attacks on humans are rare. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. Legal Statement. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. 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. 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. In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.. May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The HCPD said its death investigation remains underway. She kept yelling as Covert crept closer to the gator. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal . 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. 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. Woman 's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, woman. Then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and there #! And the Horry County Coroner 's Office did not immediately respond to News... No walk in the state since May 2020 neighbor added or delayed by least. On August 15, 2022 0 alligators like this one who saved his dog from an closest. Male, has been euthanized, officials said pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and.... Factors that contribute to an alligator attack in South Carolina has been home to over alligators! 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