Newly released police body camera footage has shown the frantic efforts of first responders rushing to assist a woman who was critically injured in a fatal alligator attack while swimming in a Florida river.
The victim, 31-year-old Brittany Clark of Orlando, later died after suffering catastrophic injuries during the incident at the Little Big Econ State Forest on Sunday afternoon.
Officer Rushes to Victim After Emergency Call
The footage shows a sheriff’s deputy running through a wooded trail toward a riverside clearing after receiving reports of an alligator attack.
Upon reaching the scene, the officer is directed to a blue pop-up shelter where Clark is receiving assistance from her boyfriend, Chance Allison. A voice can be heard describing the situation as “bad” before the deputy retrieves a tourniquet from a medical kit as emergency treatment begins. The publicly released video ends shortly afterward.
Attack Occurred While Group Was Swimming
Authorities said Clark had been hiking with Allison and another companion before the group entered the Econlockhatchee River, where the water was reportedly shoulder deep.
Investigators said an alligator suddenly attacked Clark, severely injuring both of her arms. Allison immediately attempted to free her from the animal while contacting emergency services.
Recordings of the 911 call captured the desperate moments as callers repeatedly urged dispatchers to send help, describing Clark’s injuries as life-threatening and saying she had lost both arms during the attack.
Medical Examiner Details Final Moments
According to a medical examiner’s report, the alligator initially seized Clark by one arm before performing a “death roll,” a maneuver in which the reptile spins violently to overpower its prey.
The report states that Allison entered the water and struggled with the animal as it dragged both him and Clark underwater. He briefly managed to force the alligator to release its grip, but it then latched onto her other arm.
After eventually freeing Clark, Allison and the third member of the group pulled her ashore, where he began CPR while awaiting emergency responders.
Wildlife Officials Remove Suspected Alligators
Clark was transported to hospital but later died from the injuries she sustained.
Following the attack, wildlife officials trapped and euthanized a 13-foot alligator near the scene and another measuring approximately 12.5 feet about half a mile away. DNA samples from both reptiles were submitted for laboratory testing to determine which animal was responsible.
Officials also confirmed that the larger alligator was later decapitated, with its head retained as evidence for the investigation.
Boyfriend Pays Tribute to Victim
In a statement shared with a U.S. broadcaster, Allison remembered Clark as a caring and adventurous person whose death had left him devastated.
He described her as someone who loved working outdoors, operating heavy machinery as part of a dirt crew, and spending time on the water whenever possible.
Allison said the traumatic nature of the incident made it too difficult for him to speak publicly on camera but said Clark “didn’t deserve to go out in such a way.”
Authorities Cite Seasonal Alligator Behaviour
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Chad Weber said the attack occurred near the end of the reptiles’ mating season, a period during which alligators are known to become more territorial.
Officials noted that attacks on people remain uncommon despite Florida’s large alligator population.
The fatal incident marks the third reported alligator attack in central Florida within a week. Earlier incidents included an attack at Rainbow River in Marion County and another in which a child was injured in the same county.
Meanwhile, authorities have temporarily closed the Barr Street Trailhead, the popular hiking access point near where the attack occurred, while the investigation continues.
