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 woman in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Monday, the state's second deadly attack this year, authorities said.The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and other emergency services were at . Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. All rights reserved. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. 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.. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911,the report said. 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 . A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. CLICK HERE. The South Carolina woman rescued by her neighbor as she was being attacked by an alligator is the second woman to have been attacked in such a manner on Hilton Head Island in only three years . A 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. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina Aug. 15, 2022. There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. by Mandy Matney May 4, 2020. CLICK HERE. I couldnt have imagined that it was likely one of these alligators that would later kill a man, he wrote on Friday. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. The first was an elderly woman in Charleston County in 2016. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! 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. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. Covert was pulled under the water shortly after, the report read. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office 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. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. According to a 2019 University of Florida analysis, venomous injuries largely from contact with hornets, wasps and bees resulted in an average of more than 56 fatalities per year in the United States, compared with about one per year from alligator attacks. 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. 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. Fire rescue and police arrived around 11:45 a.m.. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Photo: Getty. 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. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Anyone can read what you share. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. Rattlesnakes:What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, Bears:What should you do if you see a bear? CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . It appears she was gardening near a pond in an adult-only . They aren't the only run-ins people have had with the creatures. The victim was identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, ABC News reports. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. The Associated Press. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. 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 Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This same shark off the coast of the Outer Banks began its tracking in . FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. 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. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. Anyone can read what you share. 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. The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. But fatal gator attacks are rare. 'Walkers beware! Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. It was at. Treat your dog like you would treat your child.. 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. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. 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. 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. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. 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 . Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. 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. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Florida had an. The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. The victim in the May attack in Florida was identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness. By Christian Boschult christian.boschult@myhorrynews.com Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. Her death has been. 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 animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. She survived the incident. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. 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. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. Mazzotti says people need to be aware of their surrounding when they are near water or in areas where they have been alligator sightings. The victim has not been identified. Before Fridays deadly attack, the most recent incident was a 44-year-old teacher in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina who was killed by an alligator while walking her dog near a lagoon in the gated community of Sea Pines. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, police said. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Newly acquired data from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources suggests there has been an increase in the number of alligator encounters in the Palmetto State . 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 latest was at least the fourth in the United States since May and the second this year in South Carolina. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 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. 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 . 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. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. ', Man Fatally Shot Ex-Girlfriend's Sister After Convincing Her to Pull Over on Road, Then Killed Himself, remembered by loved ones as being a "good friend. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 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. The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. 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. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. ". In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. Alligators are mostly concentrated in Florida and Louisiana but are present in several other states. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "And then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and he passed away. Leanne Golino. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. She was a good friend to a lot of people in the park.". May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. 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. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Before that, Bonnie Walker, 90, wandered off her senior living center and was killed in an attack in Charleston, South Carolina in 2016. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials 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 HCPD said its death investigation remains underway. 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. 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. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officials urge residents and tourists to never feed alligators as it makes them more aggressive toward humans. SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. The attack occurred near a lagoon on Hilton Head Island on the state's. 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 . Police said the victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was recovered from the pond and the alligator was removed. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. Serge was remembered by loved ones as being a "good friend. "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. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. 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 . Early in the year, when water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves. 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. A good comparison would be that a dog is like what a bowl of pasta or chicken is to a human, when an alligator sees a dog they see their next meal, he says. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. The HCPD and the Horry County Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. 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. However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. Don't turn and run, expert warns, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. 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. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. 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. Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Nancy Becker, 88, was gardening at her living community when she slipped and fell into a lagoon that was home to an alligator. Moments before the attack, the womans friend warned her to not get closer to the alligator, according to a sheriffs office incident report obtained by FITSNews, but reported first by the Post and Courier. "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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 . A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. People building homes where alligators live have caused the increase in attacks, Mazzotti, a wildlife expert with the University of Floridas Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, tells TIME. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said.