A 31-year-old woman has died after an alligator bit off one of her arms at a US park. The victim was hiking with her boyfriend and her best friend on Sunday in Little Big Eco State Forest in Orlando, Florida, when they entered the Econlockhatchee River to cool off, according to Grant Eller, lieutenant with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission quoted by NBC News.
They were then attacked by the alligator, and NBC added that, in a recording of the 911 call they obtained, screams and crying could be heard in the background. In this recording, NBC said a female on the phone line told the emergency dispatcher, “OK, both her arms, both her arms, both her arms are off, like, basically”.
The dispatcher then told her that help is on the way and asked “does she still have her arms attached to her?” “One of them is, like, very hanging on [by a] thread, and the other was off,” the female on the phone replied. When the dispatcher asked again where the other arm is, the female on the phone answered, “Gone.”
Mr Eller also added “alligators are very territorial this time of year”. The victim, who lived in Orlando, died at the scene, the lieutenant said. The victim has not been identified yet as her family lives out of state, reports from NBC stated.
Two alligators were spotted near the scene. One was 13 feet long; the other was 12 feet long. DNA tests are ongoing to determine which one attacked the woman. It is not yet known what caused the alligator to attack.
The attack took place near the Barr Street Trailhead, which was closed off on Monday. Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, according to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NBC also added.
The broadcaster also said this was the third reported alligator attack in the past seven days, and the second in the past 24 hours in Central Florida.