Fisherman, 71, attacked and killed by 12-foot alligator alongside Florida lake

Steven Hamilton, a 71-year-old man from Winter Garden, Florida, was attacked and killed on Friday by an alligator nearly 12 feet long while fishing along the shore of Lake Apopka at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, about 15 miles northwest of Orlando. The Winter Garden Police Department said the strike occurred around 5 p.m. and that other active alligators in the water complicated rescue efforts. His body was recovered about two hours later. Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza said authorities launched a joint investigation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose trappers captured and killed the animal. Hamilton’s death marked Florida’s second fatal alligator attack this year, bringing 2026 deaths to two and alligator-related fatalities since 1948 to 34.