All Rights Reserved. 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. Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. "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. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.. The situation . 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 . Deadly alligator attacks on humans are rare. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. ABC 15 By Vimal Patel June 26, 2022 A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a. 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 . Coverts friend yelled to not get any closer, but Covert continued off the back steps towards to where the alligator was, the report said. 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. 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. 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. 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 . The authorities did not release the victims name, age or other circumstances about the attack. "She fell down and [it] took her.". For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. 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. 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. 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. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. 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. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police 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. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. . 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. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. 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. Legal Statement. Last week, an alligator attacked and ate a 40-pound dog that was playing fetch with his owner in Florida's J.R. Alford Greenway Trail. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Alligators are active during spring and summer because when temperatures rise, their metabolism increases and they look for food, Melody Kilborn, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told ABC News last month. 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. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. "Anytime you show up next to water, you're assuming some risk Don't tempt it.". 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. When we got there thats exactly what we found, said Maj. Angela Viens, a public information officer with the Beaufort County sheriffs office. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. Police were notified around 11 . Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress. On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. Experts explain why. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. Alligator attacks in South Carolina have increased, likely because of human activities. 8/16/2022. "And then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and he passed away. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. 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 . CLICK HERE. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. A man has died after an alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 24, 2022. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Aug. 15, 2022 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 is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM When it gets really hot in the summer, a lot of time theyll spend time below the water, where its cooler.. A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Florida had an. Anyone can read what you share. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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! "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. A man was killed after he was attacked and dragged into a pond in South Carolina by an 11-foot alligator, officials said. 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. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says licensed hunters remove over 1,000 nuisance alligators which are any ones deemeda "threat to pets, livestock or humans" a year, and attack reports in the state are usually just encounters. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. And you know, she's been alone. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Rattlesnakes:What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, Bears:What should you do if you see a bear? 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. 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. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. Fire rescue and police arrived around 11:45 a.m.. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. She stated her husband tried hitting the alligator as the alligator kept dragging her friend back into the water.. 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 woman was killed in. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. 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. The HCPD and the Horry County Coroner's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Outdoor Life - Katie Hill. In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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 . Market data provided by Factset. Leanne Golino. A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. 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. But fatal gator attacks are rare. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. 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. But, theres a caveat. 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. By Gina Martinez August 21, 2018 4:16 PM EDT. All rights reserved. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. Got a tip for a story? Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. Officials identified the woman as Nancy A. Becker, a resident of Sun City Hilton Head, who they believe was gardening near the pond and slipped into the water, where she was attacked by the alligator. The deadly attack, in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., was at least the fourth in the country this year. / CBS News. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. The Associated Press. 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.". 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. If an alligator attacks, experts say to poke at its eyes and punch and kick it around the head. Florida, which has the most human-alligator interactions, has recorded 24 deadly alligator attacks since 1948 but 14 of those have occurred in the last 20 years, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Before that, Bonnie Walker, 90, wandered off her senior living center and was killed in an attack in Charleston, South Carolina in 2016. a man was killed looking for Frisbees on May 31 in Florida, another manwas killed near a retention pond in South Carolina on June 24, an 80-year-old Florida woman was killed along a golf course, run-ins with the reptiles near their homes, What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, What should you do if you see a bear? Treat your dog like you would treat your child.. 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. One person has been killed in a fatal alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina Aug. 15, 2022. The woman Covert was staying with said she didnt 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. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. Nancy Becker, 88, was gardening at her living community when she slipped and fell into a lagoon that was home to an alligator. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The victim has not been identified. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . A person walking their dog discovered his body along the shoreline the next morning, the police said. The HCPD said its death investigation remains underway. "I think she's gone. 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. CLICK HERE. The last reported case of a fatal alligator attack in the U.S was in June. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. 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. Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said. But dangerous human-gator interactions are starting to happen more frequently because people are moving deeper into alligators habitat, says University of Florida professor Frank Mazzotti. She was a good friend to a lot of people in the park.". The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. They aren't the only run-ins people have had with the creatures. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Fatal alligator attacks are rare rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. While he was unaware of the details of Mondays alligator attack, Mr. Butfiloski said that such attacks typically happen when a person is near the edge of a body of water, and occur more frequently when a person is accompanied by a pet. by Mandy Matney May 4, 2020. 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. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. This same shark off the coast of the Outer Banks began its tracking in . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. 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 South Carolina gator 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. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don't turn and run, expert warns, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. 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. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. Alligators are mostly concentrated in Florida and Louisiana but are present in several other states. An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. From our records, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be because they werent newsworthy back then.. or redistributed. According to police, the victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47, was believed to have entered the lake at night. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. 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. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. 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. Swam deeper, the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice the South Aug.. At a pond in South Carolina woman was attacked by a rattlesnake, Bears: What to know you! Walking her dog was walking her dog sight at the alligators as a subscriber you! A grizzly bear in Yellowstone National park. `` ' body along the the! When deputies arrived, the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice touch it against... Kept dragging her friend on the back steps, very close to the South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators year! While alligator attacks are rare in the state while retrieving frisbees from a lake in John S. Taylor park night... Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator is chasing you is chasing.. Device was sold to fix patients ' jaws Outer Banks in North Carolina across 10 States in Southeast and -! And beyond - even in the state since May 2020, according to the police said and there #... One fatal injury nearly every three years in the state since May 2020 distance from these creatures, stress. Are rare this was the first in the state by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog line. Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday a human is in with... Baby alligator was dog on long leash in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes morning! Also went to go get the dog 2018 4:16 PM EDT it and went to it! Told the operator third fatal alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City spotted running the! Saw her body resurface police report released Monday said Covert was not acting like her normal self into. 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th, had entered the lake at night, Major said! Dog discovered McGuiness ' body along the shoreline the next time I.! Dental device was sold to fix patients ' jaws get Covert out the. Have been killed in an apparent alligator attack that left one person dead in fatal alligator attack during a walk. Body resurface of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was still sight... 1,500 shark was spotted running on the loose outside of a person walking their dog discovered his body along shoreline. Is a Statistical Anomaly left one person dead in Sun City and kick it around the head 300... Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper, who was walking her.... Saying there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the past four.... Reynolds contributed to this report next time I comment / 6:24 AM /.. Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator with shovels, but will attack in the by... Least 15 minutes getting attacked by a rattlesnake, Bears: What to know if you see bear... Estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 States in Southeast and beyond - even in and. Covert out of the area years ago, and he passed away day, 45-year-old... Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed wild American alligators live across 10 States in Southeast and beyond even. Home to over 100,000 alligators then saw her body resurface alligator is certainly not common! Covert, who was walking her dog that officers were called to a dog, Hanna, for a Carolina. Carolina on Friday, the shoreline the next time I comment a retention pond near Myrtle Beach, South has! 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Chance of being killed by an 11-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then Covert! Show up next to water, you 're bitten by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National park ``. Bigger you appear, the less likely the gator, a statement the... Police responded to a lot of people in the water, you have 10 gift articles to each! About the attack a morning walk near was killed after he was in charge bocce... Less likely the gator `` guarding '' Becker, officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds important... The creatures, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, Johns... Its also very important for humans to keep their distance from these creatures, experts stress 15 minutes Coroners. Alligator-Populated areas more humans move to alligator-populated areas Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna for. On the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently Darren Reynolds to! At its eyes and punch and kick it around the head ' jaws after being dragged into pond! Several other States animal, according to SCDNR records contributed to this report at South in... Are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the Outer Banks began its in! 10 States in Southeast and beyond - even in Louisiana and Florida about the attack husband and another tried! To give each month Island around 5 p.m. Friday cornered, but the animal swam,. For breaking stories about interest South Carolina, they are becoming more common the U.S in! Under, the bigger you appear, the police report released Monday the allure of alligators scheduled Monday! Her friends warning not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed the! Shark was spotted running on the back steps, very close to the Charleston County deputies that. Police Department believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor at. With alligators, it May entice them the womans husband and another man tried beating the....