Got a technical question or a glitch to report? This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. 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. She survived the incident. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. In an extremely rare event, a South Carolina woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday on Kiawah Island, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. The victim has not been identified. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. According to police, the victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47, was believed to have entered the lake at night. Treat your dog like you would treat your child.. Her death has been. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. Sun City Hilton Head, a residential community for older adults that has many ponds, is about 15 miles west of Hilton Head Island and covers roughly nine square miles. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. Outdoor Life - Katie Hill. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 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. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. A person walking their dog discovered his body along the shoreline the next morning, the police said. or redistributed. 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. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. 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. Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. 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. 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. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. "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. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. Anyone can read what you share. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. 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. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. A woman was killed in. 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. 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. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. 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. But, theres a caveat. 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 . 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. Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans, he says. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Fatal alligator attacks are rare rare enough that they attract a lot of attention when they happen. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. All rights reserved. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. The giant reptile was captured and euthanized on site. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. First responders were then able to pull the womans body from the water. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Leanne Golino. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. 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. The HCPD said its death investigation remains underway. 8/16/2022. The victim in the May attack in Florida was identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. "She was walking her little dog, and the gator grabbed the dog," the neighbor added. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. However, alligators may be more inclined to approach humans if fed by one, which is why it's illegal to do so in many states. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. 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. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. The first was an elderly woman in Charleston County in 2016. After the attack, the FWC said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the alligator was captured and killed by a contracted nuisance alligator trapper. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities 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. 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. 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. . FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. The first one was not fatal, she added. 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 . She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report said. As friends tried to yank her from the alligators grasp, she calmly said, I guess I wont do this again, moments before the alligator rolled and pulled her under the water, the newspaper reported. "I can't see her.". 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. The unnamed victim was found last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber Court outside of . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. 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. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Coverts friend yelled to not get any closer, but Covert continued off the back steps towards to where the alligator was, the report said. 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. Alligator attacks, like one after which a woman was found dead near Hilton Head Island, S.C., are rare but not surprising, said Maj. Angela Viens of the Beaufort County sheriffs office. A woman who was attacked by an alligator Thursday on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was rescued by a neighbor who hit the animal with a shovel, authorities said. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. Noting that serious injuries caused by alligator attacks are rare in state, the FWC said in a statement that anyone with concerns should call their toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR(866-392-4286). 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. There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. 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. When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, police said. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. A man was killed after he was attacked and dragged into a pond in South Carolina by an 11-foot alligator, officials said. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. By Christian Boschult christian.boschult@myhorrynews.com Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. 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. ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. 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. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. 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. Rescuers determined that an alligator took hold of a neighbor who was near the edge of a retention pond and retreated into it, the department said in a statement. Anyone can read what you share. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. Deadly alligator attacks on humans are rare. One person has been killed in a fatal alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports that the coroner identified the victim as Cynthia . Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. The unidentified woman. ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. Florida had an. Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. Got a tip for a story? 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. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . 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. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in. A woman in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Monday, the state's second deadly attack this year, authorities said.The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and other emergency services were at . Was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on 31! An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the victim in the attack. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under technical. Police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in Largo on 31. 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