A 71-year-old man was fatally savaged by a 12-foot alligator while fishing on the shoreline in Florida on Friday afternoon.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the victim as Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden, according to FOX35.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene at around 5 p.m. after Hamilton was mauled by the beast while on the shoreline of Lake Apopka, 15 miles northwest of Orlando.
Other active alligators were in the water, making it difficult to rescue Hamilton, whose body was recovered at 7 p.m, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told the outlet.
The 11.8-foot alligator was captured and killed by FWC trappers.
Reporters claimed they heard a “loud bang,” which Winter Garden Police Captain Michael Mason said was the noise of the alligator being “removed as a danger to the public.”
Lake Apopka is home to one of the largest American alligator populations in Central Florida.
