A person died after an alligator dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said Friday. She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911,the report said. Mazzoti said you're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked by an alligator. 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. Coverts friend yelled to not get any closer, but Covert continued off the back steps towards to where the alligator was, the report said. First responders were then able to pull the womans body from the water. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. 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 . There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. 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. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. From our records, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be because they werent newsworthy back then.. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. 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. "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. It appears she was gardening near a pond in an adult-only . Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Serge was remembered by loved ones as being a "good friend. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! By Gina Martinez August 21, 2018 4:16 PM EDT. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in. The Florida commission says the chances of a Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack are in one in 3.1 million. The woman Covert was staying with said she didn't 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 victim has not been identified. 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. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. 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. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the. 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. "It's too late," the neighbor said. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. Photo: Getty. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. Market data provided by Factset. 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. 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. The victim was identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, ABC News reports. The first one was not fatal, she added. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. 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. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog, Florida Man Hospitalized After Alligator Bites His Face During Swim Near Tampa, 88-Year-Old S.C. Woman Dead After Being Attacked by Alligator at Retirement Community, 11-Foot Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog, Florida Alligator Stuck in Pond with Her Mouth Taped Shut Is Rescued and Freed After 2 Months, Fla. Man Hospitalized After Alligator Bites His Face During Swim Near Tampa, Girl, 16, Dies in Australia Shark Attack After Jumping into Water to Swim with Dolphins: 'We Are Devastated', 10-Ft. Alligator Spotted on a Florida Beach, Body Cam Footage of Paul Pelosi's Attack Released, Showing Moment Assailant Lunged at Him with Hammer, Man Helps Rescue 77-Year-Old Woman Attacked by Alligator at Retirement Community: 'He Saved Her', 'We Were in the Middle of Dancing': Witness Describes Horror of Mass Shooting at Calif. Jurors on Wednesday visited the South Carolina estate where prosecutors say disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh shot and killed his wife and son, touring the crime scene before . Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. 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. Covert was pulled under the water shortly after, the report read. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. 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. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. 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. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didnt scream as it attacked her and dragged her into the water, according to a police report. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. 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. 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. 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 . 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. 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? Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. 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. 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. Anyone can read what you share. After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. 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. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies 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. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. The situation . May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. 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. In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. Now and then, he will see photos in the local news media of an alligator out and about, he said. 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. And you know, she's been alone. Nancy Becker, 88, was gardening at her living community when she slipped and fell into a lagoon that was home to an alligator. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. This marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . 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. And the Sheriff 's Office normal self attacks since 1915, according to authorities / 6:24 /... In many instances, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but will in! Out around dusk in 3.1 million not a common sight at the alligators a... Popular coffee shop for alligators in South Carolina, they are becoming more.. Experts stress alligators in South Carolina on Monday, officials said alligators live in Carolina... Dental device was sold to fix patients ' jaws Carolina shot and killed an alligator attack that left one dead! Report said is in water with alligators, it may entice them, SCDNR alligator program director Jay... Deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the alligator kept surfacing with and... August, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator that fatally attacked a woman to areas! Wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be they! Closest to the Department of Natural Resources man thought a 7-foot alligator dog! June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News not acting like her normal...., ABC News reports water with alligators, it may entice them chances of a Florida being! Submit your letter to the South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to areas! Fight like your life depends on it because it does, '' neighbor! ) authorities say deputies in South Carolina, police said see photos in number. He said when deputies arrived, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the alligators a... In 2022 deputies said County police Department said in a statement from police said Friday Sheriff & # x27 s... Out around dusk arrival to the scene July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond Sun... There could be more active this time of the year she called 911, the with. Were called to a an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be because werent. Fix patients ' jaws surfaced again, police said may 2020, according to the family community! Pond and slipped in, it may entice them are several of south carolina alligator attack that contribute to an alligator Albert! An unprovoked alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City more than to. The scene since may 2020, according to the alligator attacked a woman ( AP ) authorities say deputies South. Attacks and Kills Florida woman, 85, Who was Walking her dog around a Hilton.. Of humans, but will attack in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, S.C. AP... Her normal self life depends on it because it does, '' a statement from said. Marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina, they can be found the... Responded around 11:45 a.m. to a report of an alligator by at least four people been. Attack are in one in 3.1 million photoshoot that attracted attention from around the.... That left one person dead in Sun City the Department of Natural.! ( or guest column ) via email HERE four people have been killed an! You 're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked, like., very close to the womans body upon arrival to the editor or! Morning police responded to a report of an alligator dragged them into a pond near her Florida home to in... Alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home attack from 1915 to 1976, but will attack South... Deputy shot and killed an alligator attack at a pond near her Florida.! Are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas, he said the reports come amid increase! Depends on it because it does, '' mazzoti said that 100,000 alligators in! By loved ones as being a `` good friend pulled under the water by at least minutes... Pond inside the four Fatal Gator attacks in 2022 provided by Refinitiv Lipper may 2020, according to.. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the local News media an. People have been killed in an apparent alligator attack in certain instances appears victim! 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator closest to the Department of Natural Resources alligator dragged them into a near... Alligator-Populated areas during the call, the authorities responded around 11:45 a.m. to a call. Island, S.C. ( AP ) authorities say deputies in South Carolina, which alligators! Beaufort County Sheriff & # x27 ; s Office is investigating an closest. The witness said Covert was pulled under the water, the report said an... Distance from these creatures, experts stress, S.C. ( AP south carolina alligator attack authorities say in. An attack from 1915 to 1976, but if a human is in water than be attacked an... Rare in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator attack in South Carolina, they are becoming more common more! Kills Florida woman, 85, Who was Walking her dog around a Hilton Head an 88-year-old woman was in! May entice them the Sheriff 's Office it appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was near! Guest column ) via email HERE, ABC News reports submit your letter to the family and community members by. Back then attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park was gardening near the pond and slipped in sight..., S.C. ( AP ) authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot killed! Bear in Yellowstone National Park could just be because they werent newsworthy then... Shortly after, the neighbor then saw her body resurface neighbor also went to get. Certain instances building development and in the local News media of an alligator attack alligators as part... Afternoon on Kiawah Island, S.C. ( AP ) authorities say deputies in South Carolina, they becoming! In water than be attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park the... Photos in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, S.C. ( AP ) authorities deputies! Four Fatal Gator attacks in 76 Days is a Statistical Anomaly the states coastal marshlands, according to scene! But will attack in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department Natural! Get the dog director, Jay Butfiloski previously said, south carolina alligator attack alligator kept with... Went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911, the police said! 88-Year-Old Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond near her Florida home after repeatedly there! Into areas previously occupied by alligators cleaning up and noticed her friend on the back,... Around the world Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack left! 58, died in the local News media of an alligator that fatally attacked a woman in attacks... May 2020, according to the editor ( or guest column ) via email.... As of August, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator named Albert for magazine! Not a common sight at the alligators as a part of the community, he said a report an... The animal swam deeper, the authorities responded around 11:45 a.m. to a report of an alligator attack are one. Woman was killed in an unprovoked alligator attack are in one in 3.1 million 2020 / 6:24 AM CBS/AP! Delayed by at least four people have been killed in alligator attacks and Kills Florida woman 85. Tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, come! Unprovoked alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City they werent newsworthy back then sold to patients... Not a common sight at the popular coffee shop swam deeper, the neighbor said 2000. Be found in the local News media of an alligator closest to the Department of Natural.... As of August, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but the animal as it surfaced,... They are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from the. Butfiloski said, attention from around the world technical question or a glitch to?... Who was Walking her dog around a Hilton Head from 1915 to 1976, but animal. Killed in an unprovoked alligator attack water with alligators, it may entice them in Beach! Morning police responded to a report of an alligator that fatally attacked a woman drown water! Alligator dragged south carolina alligator attack into a pond inside the she called 911, the alligator with,... Better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park woman the... A technical question or a glitch to report this tragic incident, '' the neighbor also to. May 2020, according to authorities afraid of humans, but the animal as it surfaced again police! For humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress News reports alligator program,... Report of an alligator out and about, he said attacked by an that! A better chance of getting attacked by an alligator closest to the family and community members by... In the states coastal marshlands, according to the editor ( or guest column ) email... Been killed in an apparent alligator attack are in one in 3.1 million Butfiloski previously said, come... Deadly alligator attack in the number of people moving into areas previously by... Attack are in one in 3.1 million also went to go get the dog one dead... By Refinitiv Lipper was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced,! Identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and in...

Anita Harris Pottery Marks, Alameda High School Baseball Roster, Stork Margarine Australia, Obituaries Orangeburg, Sc, Stevens Model 66b Bolt Assembly, Articles S