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. And you know, she's been alone. "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina Aug. 15, 2022. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. 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. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. 1:39 A person in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Friday near a community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach, authorities said. CLICK HERE. 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. 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! The attack occurred near a lagoon on Hilton Head Island on the state's. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. 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. 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. 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). This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. The victim in the May attack in Florida was identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness. 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. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. 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. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. The authorities did not release the victims name, age or other circumstances about the attack. 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. Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911,the 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. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. 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. The last reported case of a fatal alligator attack in the U.S was in June. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . 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. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Rattlesnakes:What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, Bears:What should you do if you see a bear? The last fatal alligator attack to occur in South Carolina was in May 2020, when a 58-year-old woman saw an alligator and went to touch it, despite her friend's warnings, according to The Post and Courier. 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. The unnamed victim was found last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber Court outside of . The victim has not been identified. Her death has been. 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. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. "I can't see her.". The victim was recovered from the pond, and the alligator was removed and euthanized on site. The latest was at least the fourth in the United States since May and the second this year in South Carolina. Early in the year, when water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. An officer observed the alligator and the victim surface in the water, the report said. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. "Anytime you show up next to water, you're assuming some risk Don't tempt it.". 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. 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 . An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. A South Carolina woman was rescued by a neighbor Thursday morning during a violent alligator attack in the state, authorities said. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. The Associated Press. 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 Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. A person died after an alligator dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said Friday. 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. 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. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. The deadly attack, in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., was at least the fourth in the country this year. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Please enter valid email address to continue. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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 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. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. 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.. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. It was at. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 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. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident, the latest in a small string of fatal alligator attacks this summer. by Mandy Matney May 4, 2020. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. Then, the gator bit his leg. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. 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. She kept yelling as Covert crept closer to the gator. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital 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 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 do not have an instinct to attack humans, he says. 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. Alligator attacks are rare, fatal ones even rarer. Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office were notified around 11:15 a.m. about an alligator that looked as if it was "standing guard" beside a . Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. 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. A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. 8/16/2022. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. 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. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. Mazzoti said you're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked by an alligator. This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. 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. 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. Florida is known to be the home of alligators, and residents have numerous run-ins with the reptiles near their homes, golf courses or roads. 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. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. 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. Legal Statement. 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. 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. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Anyone can read what you share. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 . 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. 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. The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police 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. But fatal gator attacks are rare. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. 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 . Got a tip for a story? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She survived the incident. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. All rights reserved. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 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. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". 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. 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. Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The situation . The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. Don't turn and run, expert warns. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The first one was not fatal, she added. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. Experts explain why. . Coverts friend yelled to not get any closer, but Covert continued off the back steps towards to where the alligator was, the report said. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, police said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. 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. 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. Don't turn and run, expert warns, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. 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. May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. The HCPD and the Horry County Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. Mazzotti says people need to be aware of their surrounding when they are near water or in areas where they have been alligator sightings. A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. Nancy Becker, 88, was gardening at her living community when she slipped and fell into a lagoon that was home to an alligator. ', 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. First responders were then able to pull the womans body from the water. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. One person has been killed in a fatal alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. 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. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. 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. 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.". However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. N'T perceive humans as either a threat or as food. `` attacks... There & # x27 ; s left leg and began pulling her into,! Person walking their dog discovered McGuiness ' body along the lake 's shoreline a woman Friday. Weve always looked at the edge of a South Carolina Aug. 15 2022. 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