71-year-old fisherman killed by 12ft alligator at Lake Apopka — second fatal Florida attack of 2026
Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden was fishing on the shore of Lake Apopka at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park when a nearly 12-foot alligator attacked on Friday evening.
A 71-year-old fisherman has been killed by an alligator while fishing on the shore of Lake Apopka in Florida, in the state’s second fatal alligator attack of 2026.
Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden was standing on the shoreline at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, about 15 miles northwest of Orlando, when a nearly 12-foot alligator struck at around 5pm on Friday, the Winter Garden Police Department said (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/17/us/florida-fisherman-alligator-attack?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta).
Other alligators active in the water complicated rescue efforts, and Hamilton’s body was recovered about two hours later, around 7pm, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35 (https://nypost.com/2026/10/17/us-news/fisherman-killed-by-12-foot-alligator-while-he-stood-on-shoreline/).
Police Captain Michael Mason said officers had not been alerted to any alligator sightings before the attack, noting that Lake Apopka “has tons of alligators in it”. Police have launched a joint investigation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose trappers captured and killed the 11.8ft reptile (https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/10/18/world/americas-emea/fisherman-71-killed-by-12-foot-alligator-alongside-florida-lake/2448063/amp).
The death follows that of 31-year-old Brittany Clark, who was killed by a 13ft alligator in the Econlockhatchee River in June. Using Florida state data, the two 2026 deaths bring the total number of people killed by alligators since 1948 to 34.
More on this topic: all World stories
