ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Brittany Clark, a 31-year-old woman from Orlando, died after being attacked by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest on Sunday, according to Florida wildlife officials.
Clark was in the river with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and another friend when the attack occurred.
According to authorities and information contained in a medical examiner’s report, the group had been hiking before entering approximately three feet of water to cool off.
The outing quickly turned into a desperate fight for Clark’s life when an alligator attacked.
Alligator grabbed Clark and dragged her underwater
According to the medical examiner’s report, the alligator grabbed one of Clark’s arms before beginning a spinning motion commonly known as a “death roll.”
Allison immediately tried to intervene.
The report states that he grabbed onto the alligator as it pulled both him and Clark underwater in an attempt to free her.
Allison was able to briefly free one of Clark’s arms, but the alligator then grabbed her other arm.
He eventually managed to pull Clark toward the riverbank after the animal released her.
Once they reached shore, Allison began performing CPR while the other person in the group called 911.
Boyfriend describes desperate 911 call
During the emergency call, Allison could be heard telling the dispatcher that Clark had suffered severe injuries to both arms and was losing a significant amount of blood.
He pleaded with the dispatcher for emergency responders to arrive as quickly as possible.
Despite the efforts to save her, Clark ultimately died from her injuries.
The circumstances of the attack and the severity of Clark’s injuries were later documented as part of the medical examiner’s investigation.
Where did the fatal alligator attack happen?
The attack occurred in the Econlockhatchee River, which runs through Little Big Econ State Forest in Central Florida, approximately 25 miles northeast of Orlando.
Florida wildlife officials said the group appeared to have been wading or swimming in roughly three feet of water when the attack happened.
Chad Weber, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), said there was no indication the group had been intentionally provoking the animals.
“It doesn’t seem they were doing anything malicious,” Weber said while expressing condolences to Clark’s family.
Two large alligators captured after attack
Following the fatal attack, FWC wildlife officers captured two alligators from the river.
The animals measured approximately 12 feet and 13 feet long.
Both alligators were euthanized and submitted for DNA testing as investigators work to determine which animal was responsible for attacking Clark.
The DNA testing is expected to help wildlife officials identify the specific alligator involved in the fatal encounter.
Boyfriend remembers Brittany Clark
In a text message to NBC News, Allison remembered Clark as a deeply caring person and expressed his grief over her death.
He described her as “such an amazing and caring person” who did not deserve to die in such a way.
Allison also called Clark “the strongest and most outgoing person” he had ever known.
His account of the attack underscores the desperate efforts made to save Clark after she was pulled from the river.
Florida has about 1.3 million alligators
Alligator encounters are a known risk in Florida, which is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, according to the FWC.
The agency says Florida averages approximately eight unprovoked alligator bites each year.
Since the state began tracking alligator attacks in 1948, there have been 26 fatal unprovoked alligator attacks in Florida, according to wildlife officials.
The death of Brittany Clark is now part of that history.
Investigation remains ongoing
FWC officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal alligator attack.
DNA testing on the two captured alligators is expected to help determine which animal attacked Clark.
For Clark’s family and loved ones, however, the investigation follows a devastating loss: what began as a summer hike and a swim in the river ended with a fatal encounter that her boyfriend and friend desperately tried to stop.
Clark was 31 years old.
