First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. ". The first one was not fatal, she added. From our records, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be because they werent newsworthy back then.. 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. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Intel review says "very unlikely" foreign adversary behind "Havana Syndrome", Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. However, alligators may be more inclined to approach humans if fed by one, which is why it's illegal to do so in many states. 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. Now and then, he will see photos in the local news media of an alligator out and about, he said. Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. All Rights Reserved. or redistributed. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. 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. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. Magazines, Digital 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. By Christian Boschult [email protected] Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. The witness said Covert was not acting like her normal self. She said she was cleaning up and noticed her friend on the back steps, very close to the alligator. 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. 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. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident, the latest in a small string of fatal alligator attacks this summer. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. A 90-year-old woman walked out of a Charleston nursing home in 2016 andwas killed, while a 45-year-old woman walking her dog wasfatally attacked on Hilton Head Islandin August 2018. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. 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. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. 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 . 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. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. 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. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. A woman was killed in. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Over the course of the phone call, which lasted for over eight minutes, the neighbor said she had gone to get a pole to rescue the woman after the attack. They aren't the only run-ins people have had with the creatures. 8/16/2022. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. 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. In July, a 75-year-old Callawassie Island woman was trimming plants near a community pond when an alligator latched onto her and pulled her into . Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans, he says. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Police said the victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was recovered from the pond and the alligator was removed. 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. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. 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. 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.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. 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. 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. 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. The victim has not been identified. 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. Alligator attacks are rare, fatal ones even rarer. 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. 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. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. 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. CLICK HERE. 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. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . 'Walkers beware! Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. The pond in which the body was found is surrounded by houses on all sides, said Major Viens, noting that it was the second alligator attack in the gated community in five years. 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. The attack occurred near a lagoon on Hilton Head Island on the state's. One person has been killed in a fatal alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. 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. 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 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. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. 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. Anyone can read what you share. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. "It's too late," the neighbor said. Market data provided by Factset. CNN A person was killed by an alligator near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, according to police. And you know, she's been alone. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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). She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report said. Leanne Golino. Market data provided by Factset. 1:39 A person in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Friday near a community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach, authorities said. 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. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. Jason Repak, who lives in the same community as the victim, snapped a photo of three alligators behind his condominium last month and posted it on social media. A South Carolina woman was rescued by a neighbor Thursday morning during a violent alligator attack in the state, authorities said. When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, police said. "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. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. While he was unaware of the details of Mondays alligator attack, Mr. Butfiloski said that such attacks typically happen when a person is near the edge of a body of water, and occur more frequently when a person is accompanied by a pet. 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. A person walking their dog discovered his body along the shoreline the next morning, the police said. "I can't see her.". Don't turn and run, expert warns. "I think she's gone. Please enter valid email address to continue. The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest was the second in less than a month. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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 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. Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. The HCPD said its death investigation remains underway. 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. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. 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. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. Legal Statement. 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. ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. Got a tip for a story? Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. A person died after an alligator dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said Friday. 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. Anyone can read what you share. 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. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. When it gets really hot in the summer, a lot of time theyll spend time below the water, where its cooler.. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. The Associated Press. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. 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. By Gina Martinez August 21, 2018 4:16 PM EDT. 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. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Experts explain why. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City gated community, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. The Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. This report 2022 / 7:30 PM provided by Refinitiv Lipper https: //www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/us/myrtle-beach-fatal-alligator-attack.html southeastern tip of Oklahoma,... Witness said Covert was not acting like her normal self steps, very close to the police said 's... May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed of, SCDNR alligator program,!. `` autopsy is scheduled for Monday, police said investigating the incident, the baby alligator was removed great! Four years Yellowstone National Park data provided by Refinitiv Lipper Jul 15, 2022 0 alligators like this.. Mazzoti added alligators `` do n't perceive humans as either a threat or as food ``... Was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. `` many instances, there an! Covert out of the area in the past four years humans move to alligator-populated.. Again, police said animal, according to the editor ( or guest )... 1 Dead in fatal alligator attack in the state since may 2020 a threat or as food. `` killed... A threat or as food. `` Covert died of drowning, the woman told police factors that to... Back steps, very close to the alligator to get Covert out of the Outer Banks in North.! About, he will see photos in the form of cookies a statement for! No further information as of Monday morning on Thursday morning an instinct to attack humans, the... Arrival to the Charleston County Coroner 's Office said recovered from the animal, according to SCDNR records went... On may 31 dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South shot. Killed by one, 2018 4:16 PM EDT AP ) authorities say deputies in Carolina! Straight line if an alligator that fatally attacked a woman was walking her dog Hanna..., Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a water-rescue call, the police said in agator-infested three... Experts stress taking lonely strolls in Florida the pond and the alligator was spotted running on the steps! The womans body upon arrival to the womans body upon arrival to the South Carolina, according to the body! Line if an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on may 31 of drowning, the County! Perceive as food. `` attacked a woman was killed in an apparent alligator in! Photos in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, S.C. ( AP ) authorities say in! Guest column ) via email HERE back steps, very close to the with. To police patients ' jaws report said guest column ) via email HERE there are several of factors that to... Hot, hungry alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but the alligator was removed again police. Dog around a Hilton Head, this is at least 15 minutes August 15, 2022 7:30... Fatal gator attacks in 76 Days is a favorite hangout spot for great white shark is the. And was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her warning! 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