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

A 71-year-old man was killed by an alligator while fishing in a Florida park, authorities reported. The incident occurred near Lake Apopka in the town of Winter Garden, according to police captain Michael Mason. The 3.7-meter-long alligator approached the shoreline and attacked the man around 5:00 PM local time on Friday in Dr Bradford Memorial Park, situated a few miles west of Orlando.

Alligator attacks in Florida are infrequent, given the state's population of approximately 1.3 million alligators. However, Lake Apopka is known for its high alligator population, making encounters with these reptiles relatively common in the area. The alligator was subsequently removed as a threat to the public and dispatched by trappers.

Authorities emphasized the importance of being cautious and respecting wildlife while enjoying natural surroundings. This marks the second fatal alligator attack in Florida this year, following a similar incident in June where a 31-year-old woman was killed while swimming near Orlando. Alligator-related fatalities in the state have been relatively rare, with only 32 such incidents recorded between 1948 and 2025 out of 500 total encounters. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating the matter further.