Florida wildlife officials identify woman killed by gator in Florida river

Digital Journalist

Investigative Reporter

The 31-year-old woman who died after she was attacked by an alligator on Sunday has been identified as Brittany Clark of Orlando, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Tuesday.

Clark was hiking with her boyfriend and friends near the Barr Street Trailhead in Florida’s Little Big Econ State Forest when they stopped to swim in the river around 1:30 p.m.

“They were in approximately 3 feet of water,” said Grant Eller with FWC. “The water levels are lower due to a statewide drought, so it is lower for normal in that area.”

That’s when they said the gator bit her.

Multiple 911 calls released Monday detail the frantic response.

The caller described Clark’s injuries, “both her arms are dislocated … off basically … one arm is completely off.

Clark died on the way to the hospital.

“She loved her job where she operated a bulldozer running a dirt crew,” Clark’s boyfriend, Chance Allison, said. “And loved going out on the water every chance she could. Never in a million years would we have seen this nightmare come about.”

Brittany Clark of Orlando died after she was bitten by an alligator while swimming in a Florida river

A GoFundMe has been made to help get her remains to California, where she’s from.

Her brother spoke to sister station WESH, saying his sister was no stranger to water and a ‘beautiful person.’

2 massive gators caught

FWC reported that two alligators were harvested, one measuring 13 feet and another measuring 12 feet.

DNA analysis was conducted, and samples will be sent to a lab to determine which gator was responsible for the woman’s death.

Several signs near the trailhead entrance warn visitors of alligators in the area.

Video below: Gator expert shares how to stay safe near Florida waters

3 gator attacks in 7 days

This attack is the third reported in the past seven days and the second in 24 hours in Central Florida.

FWC said serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida. The agency administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property.