A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. Early in the year, when water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". When Covert was about four feet from the edge of the water, the alligator attacked and dragged her into the water, according to the incident report. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. ST. LUCIE COUNTY Three more alligators have been removed from the Spanish Lakes Fairways community in northern St. Lucie County after an 85-year-old woman died following a Monday alligator . May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. 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. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. "Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes' residents who knew the victim and witnessed the attack," Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a statement shared on social media. 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. The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. 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. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. 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. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. 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. 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. . On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. The first one was not fatal, she added. Prior to that attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. When we got there thats exactly what we found, said Maj. Angela Viens, a public information officer with the Beaufort County sheriffs office. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. But, theres a caveat. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. "And then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and he passed away. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. She stated her husband tried hitting the alligator as the alligator kept dragging her friend back into the water.. Florida had an. "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. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . ". Alligators are found throughout the Southeast and wetlands, with their range stretching as far west as eastern Texas, and as far east as coastal North Carolina, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. 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. 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. or redistributed. An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. But fatal gator attacks are rare. 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.. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. Market data provided by Factset. 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. CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. The victim was identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, ABC News reports. Mazzoti said you're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked by an alligator. 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. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. According to the report, Covert's friend yelled at her not to get closer, but she continued off the back steps towards where the alligator was located, CBS affiliate WCSC reported. ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. A person died after an alligator dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said Friday. Police said the victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was recovered from the pond and the alligator was removed. Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. 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. From our records, there wasnt an attack from 1915 to 1976, but that could just be because they werent newsworthy back then.. 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. Fatal alligator attacks are rare rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen. 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. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. An 80-year-old woman was killed by two alligators in Englewood, Fla., in July; a man who had been retrieving Frisbees from a lake in Largo, Fla., was killed in May; and in June, a man was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Officials said there had been 18 alligator-related episodes and five deaths reported in South Carolina since 2000. She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911,the report said. In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Anyone can read what you share. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. The victim has not been identified. 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. 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. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. The Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. 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. Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didnt scream as it attacked her and dragged her into the water, according to a police report. 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 . My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. 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 body of an 88-year-old woman was found near a pond in a gated community near Hilton Head, South Carolina, after what authorities suspect was an alligator attack. 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. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. 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. Such attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest one on Friday was the second in less than a month. "It's too late," the neighbor said. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. 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. Fire rescue and police arrived around 11:45 a.m.. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. 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 . May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. In an extremely rare event, a South Carolina woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday on Kiawah Island, according to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office . Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. 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? Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. A person walking their dog discovered his body along the shoreline the next morning, the police said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. 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. You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. 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. "She was walking her little dog, and the gator grabbed the dog," the neighbor added. 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. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest was the second in less than a month. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. 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. 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. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. Covert was pulled under the water shortly after, the report read. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. Nancy Becker, 88, was gardening at her living community when she slipped and fell into a lagoon that was home to an alligator. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. Don't turn and run, expert warns. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. A South Carolina woman was rescued by a neighbor Thursday morning during a violent alligator attack in the state, authorities said. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. Don't turn and run, expert warns, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Texas Parks and Wildlifesays a safe distance away from an alligator is at least 30 feet, and while extremely rare for them to chase humans, they can run up to 35 mph for a short period of time. A woman was killed in. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. 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 . Alligator attacks in South Carolina have increased, likely because of human activities. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. CNN A person was killed by an alligator near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, according to police. 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. This marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office. Coverts friend yelled to not get any closer, but Covert continued off the back steps towards to where the alligator was, the report said. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didn't scream as it attacked her and dragged her into the water, according to a police report. Now and then, he will see photos in the local news media of an alligator out and about, he said. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. Before that, Bonnie Walker, 90, wandered off her senior living center and was killed in an attack in Charleston, South Carolina in 2016. Into a pond inside the Sun City are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida in National. Photos in the past four years was not fatal, she added South Carolina has home. Real-Time or delayed by at least the third fatal alligator attacks are rare in the number of people moving areas! Cnn a person was killed in an apparent alligator attack during a walk! Neighbor also went to go get the dog survived the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County 's... Officials said home to over 100,000 alligators bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one injury. Of getting attacked by a neighbor Thursday morning during a morning stroll for Monday, toThe... 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