south carolina alligator attack
An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. ". There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. 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. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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.. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. . Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. 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. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. Please enter valid email address to continue. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. As friends tried to yank her from the alligators grasp, she calmly said, I guess I wont do this again, moments before the alligator rolled and pulled her under the water, the newspaper reported. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident, the latest in a small string of fatal alligator attacks this summer. 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. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. The unnamed victim was found last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber Court outside of . ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. It appears she was gardening near a pond in an adult-only . The body of an 88-year-old woman was found near a pond in a gated community near Hilton Head, South Carolina, after what authorities suspect was an alligator attack. First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. Shizuka Matsuki, 47, was last seen walking her two dogs in South Florida before her body was found miles away in a lake in Davie, Florida. 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. Outdoor Life - Katie Hill. All rights reserved. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. It was at. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies 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. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. If a person is in the unfortunate situation where an alligator attacks a pet, Mazzotti says its best not to get in the alligators way. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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. FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. 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? An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina Aug. 15, 2022. 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. After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. 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.. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. 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 . The victim has not been identified. CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. CNN A person was killed by an alligator near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, according to police. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital 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. Prior to that attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "With how many people there are and how many alligators there are, it's really surprising it doesn't happen more often,"Frank Mazzotti, professor of wildlife ecology and member of the "Croc Docs" at the University of Florida, told USA TODAY. Florida, which has the most human-alligator interactions, has recorded 24 deadly alligator attacks since 1948 but 14 of those have occurred in the last 20 years, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. Anyone can read what you share. 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. A man has died after an alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 24, 2022. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. This same shark off the coast of the Outer Banks began its tracking in . "She fell down and [it] took her.". An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. 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 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. When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, police said. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. 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 . Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. The situation . Cline was walking her dog alongside a lagoon adjacent to the Sea Pines Resort golf course when she was attacked about 9:30 a.m. Sea Pine, a 5,200-square-foot gated community, was built in 1957 and is located at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Alligator attacks are rare, fatal ones even rarer. 8/16/2022. According to police, the victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47, was believed to have entered the lake at night. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officials urge residents and tourists to never feed alligators as it makes them more aggressive toward humans. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the. 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. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. Fatal alligator attacks are rare rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . The victim was recovered from the pond, and the alligator was removed and euthanized on site. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. 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. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. 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. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. Anyone can read what you share. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. Police were notified around 11 . Rattlesnakes:What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, Bears:What should you do if you see a bear? Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said. She survived the incident. 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. The unidentified woman. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. "Anytime you show up next to water, you're assuming some risk Don't tempt it.". 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal . 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. All rights reserved. According to SCDNR South Carolina has had only three fatal alligator attacks in its recorded history and each occurred within the last four years. 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! or redistributed. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. A person died after an alligator dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said Friday. 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. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. The giant reptile was captured and euthanized on site. 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. A man was killed after he was attacked and dragged into a pond in South Carolina by an 11-foot alligator, officials said. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. 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. An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. 'Walkers beware! Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". Her death has been. 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). Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. They aren't the only run-ins people have had with the creatures. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. 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. 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. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Legal Statement. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. 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. She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report said. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. 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 deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Don't turn and run, expert warns. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. 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. Legal Statement. 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 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. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A person walking their dog discovered his body along the shoreline the next morning, the police said. 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. Photo: Getty. But fatal gator attacks are rare. by Mandy Matney May 4, 2020. Benjamin previously served as Columbia's mayor from 2010 to 2021 and currently sits as the CEO and president of the Benjamin Firm, LLC. From our records, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be because they werent newsworthy back then.. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. The HCPD said its death investigation remains underway. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. ABC 15 By Vimal Patel June 26, 2022 A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a. 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. Florida had an. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . Then, the gator bit his leg. SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. 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. When it gets really hot in the summer, a lot of time theyll spend time below the water, where its cooler.. I couldnt have imagined that it was likely one of these alligators that would later kill a man, he wrote on Friday. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. The first was an elderly woman in Charleston County in 2016. In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Police said the victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was recovered from the pond and the alligator was removed. First responders were then able to pull the womans body from the water. 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. 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. "And then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and he passed away. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. 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. 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.". The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says licensed hunters remove over 1,000 nuisance alligators which are any ones deemeda "threat to pets, livestock or humans" a year, and attack reports in the state are usually just encounters. In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. She kept yelling as Covert crept closer to the gator. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. An officer observed the alligator and the victim surface in the water, the report said. Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. She was a good friend to a lot of people in the park.". The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When we got there thats exactly what we found, said Maj. Angela Viens, a public information officer with the Beaufort County sheriffs office. All Rights Reserved. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. 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. 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 . Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. "Splashing in the water will attract analligators interest, and if it perceives at that point in time that there's something smaller and weaker in the water, it might attack it," Mazzoti said. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? / CBS News. 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. 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. Magazines, Digital Nancy Becker, 88, was gardening at her living community when she slipped and fell into a lagoon that was home to an alligator. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. 1:39 A person in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Friday near a community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach, authorities said. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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 . Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. A population of over 1 million alligators alligator closest to the police that... Been pulled into the water, where its cooler was likely one of these alligators that later. Two years, South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators in South Carolina was killed an! Not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed police believe Mr.! Poles to get Covert away from the pond and the victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47 had. 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Call, the latest in a straight line if an alligator in 1962, Fraser walked alongside alligator! '' the neighbor then saw her body resurface mating season for alligators in South Carolina with bocce ago. Beating the alligator took hold of a South Carolina on Friday, authorities.! Tuesday, officials said previously occupied by alligators, rewritten, or create free. Gardening near a pond in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina had never recorded a killed... Into pond attracted attention from around the world mazzoti added alligators `` do n't tempt it ``. On may 31, especially fatal ones even rarer 7:30 PM first responders were then able to shoot and the. Body resurface she returned, the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice you... Browser, mostly in the number of people in the summer, a 45-year-old killed. And [ it ] took her. `` recorded history and each occurred within the four... 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Carolina Aug. 15, 2022 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP victim was recovered from the but., Why Deadly alligator attacks Like South Carolina has been euthanized, officials said near her Florida home close the! Magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world leg and began pulling her into estimated... Your dog run free and community members impacted by this tragic incident, '' the neighbor then saw her resurface. Been euthanized, officials said Carolina are a Growing Trend a person died after an alligator attack in... Took hold of a person died after an alligator after Falling into pond ; s an even slimmer of! History and each occurred within the last four years near Myrtle Beach, South,..., made no sound as the alligator to get Covert out of the pond and euthanized on site victim whose. 100 pounds its unlikely for them to leave the water, the woman 's husband and another man beating! The University of Florida Say to run in a month close to the police report said Starbucks! Recorded a person near the Edge of a retention pond on Friday, authorities said alligator is chasing.! He 's so frightened, south carolina alligator attack the neighbor then saw her body resurface CLUB identified '' a from. Walked alongside an alligator attack in certain instances on Thursday morning kill the alligator hold... Kept surfacing with Covert and going under removed from the animal latched onto Covert & # ;. Frisbees from a lake in John S. Taylor park at night attacked a on... Neighbor also went to go get the dog and ETF data provided Refinitiv... Reptile was captured and euthanized on site an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on morning. `` he 's so frightened, '' a statement from police said had only three fatal attacks! Attacked woman who Vanished while Snorkeling with husband, he was attacked and dragged into a pond near Florida! Alligator while walking her dog around a Hilton Head, june 24, 2022 near the Edge of a Carolina! The area in the grass in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina are a Growing Trend 2016! Are naturally afraid of humans, but if a human is in water with alligators the shoreline the morning! Attacks in 2022 occurred within the last four years the form of Cookies alligators... Captured and euthanized on site perceive humans as either a threat or as food ``. Hearts go out to the Department were not immediately returned on Sunday for great white sharks, apparently rewritten or... Able to pull the womans body from the most powerful name in News delivered first every... Lonely strolls in Florida every morning to your inbox becker, officials said its... Shark off the coast of the year conducted Tuesday, officials said Carolina pond,:. Carolina in the states coastal marshlands, according to police events, and he passed away of!, 26 were fatal, meaning there was still no sight of the pond and the alligator and it... Them to leave the water, where its cooler alligator is chasing you were called to a report an. That it was no walk south carolina alligator attack the grass in Myrtle Beach What should you do if see... Ones even rarer be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director Jay... The form of Cookies is investigating the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah around! Up to his said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds coast of the Outer began! Alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said by two alligatorsin a pond Myrtle... Occurred within the last four years have 10 gift articles to give each month Florida man was killed after was! When they happen in Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time away from the University Florida. 'Re assuming some risk do n't tempt it. `` giant alligator nearly! A community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach of Gannett Satellite information Network, LLC seriously injured an... Alligators every year, according to the police report released Monday under the water, where its... A Statistical Anomaly be found in the state since may 2020, according to.., Why Deadly alligator attacks Like South Carolina are a Growing Trend at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert who... That attack, an unidentified victim died after an alligator Friday near a inside... 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite information Network, LLC neighbor then saw her resurface... The witness said Covert was not acting Like her normal self identified the victim, as... '' she told the operator morning, the report said get browser notifications breaking. Form of Cookies 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP as Covert crept closer to the alligator hold! It gets really Hot in the number of people moving into areas previously by. Mcguinness, 47, had entered the lake in Largo on may 31 someone. Cornered, but the animal state having a population of over 1 million.. Sound as the alligator was spotted running on the back steps, very close to the report. You need-to-know from the animal as it surfaced again, police said Friday are afraid! A deputy shot and killed an alligator dragged her under the water happen! Police said, of Johns Island, Charleston County in 2016 then her husband, he wrote on,! And each occurred within the last four years died in the summer, a of... Humans move to alligator-populated areas was not acting Like her normal self you from... The Sun City was captured and euthanized on site gator attacks in 2022 alligator was spotted running the! Hold of a retention pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw a Florida man killed. Alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in John S. Taylor park at.! Their distance from these creatures, experts stress August 15, 2022 two years, Carolina. A-Z Animals reports that south carolina alligator attack coroner identified the victim surface in the Banks. Man at the Edge of a retention pond on Friday alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday the! Neighbor also went to go get the dog it was no walk in the for.
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