Florida Man, 71, Killed by Alligator While Fishing in Winter Garden

A Winter Garden alligator attack has left a 71-year-old man dead after he was bitten while fishing at a city park, authorities said. The victim was identified as Steven Hamilton, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Winter Garden Police Department.

What Happened at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park

Hamilton was fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden, a community roughly 15 miles west of Orlando, when the alligator bit him. The incident was reported on Friday, Oct. 17, 2026. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses reportedly saw someone grabbed and pulled into the water, though the exact sequence of events remains under review. Emergency personnel responded to the park, but Hamilton could not be saved.

Alligator Trapped and Killed

The FWC and Winter Garden police confirmed that authorities trapped and killed an alligator measuring approximately 12 feet long following the attack. The animal was removed after the incident. The agency did not specify how the alligator was located or how long the operation took.

Officials Stress Rarity and Urge Caution

According to the FWC, serious injuries from alligators are rare in Florida. Capt. Michael Mason of the Winter Garden Police Department warned the public about the dangers of local wildlife and encouraged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact authorities. His remarks were reported by WESH 2 News, an NBC affiliate.

Police have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the bite, including whether Hamilton was alone or what specific injuries he sustained. The investigation is ongoing.

A Second Fatal Alligator Incident This Year

The death follows a June alligator incident at Little Big Econ State Forest, near Winter Garden, in which a 31-year-old woman was killed. That case marked another fatal encounter with an alligator in the same region within months.

Authorities continue to ask anyone with information about the Winter Garden incident to come forward as they work to understand how the attack unfolded.