Steven Hamilton, 71, was pulled into a Central Florida pond and killed by an 11-foot, 8-inch alligator while fishing on Friday evening at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden, according to police and wildlife officials.
Steven Hamilton Attacked While Fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park
The fatal attack occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, according to Winter Garden police and fire officials. Hamilton, a local resident, was fishing from the shoreline of a pond inside Dr. Bradford Memorial Park when the alligator seized him and dragged him beneath the surface into the water.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene following a 911 call reporting a possible alligator attack. Fire Chief Jose Gainza stated that the pond contained several alligators, preventing first responders from immediately entering the water. Hamilton’s body was later recovered from the water, and responding personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Trappers Remove and Kill the Alligator
Contracted trappers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured an alligator at the park following the incident. Winter Garden police and the FWC launched a joint investigation into the death.
🚨 JUST IN 🚨Steven Hamilton, 71, was the Winter Garden, FL man killed by the gator Friday night at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park. This is WESH Chopper footage of the “dispatching” of the alligator yesterday afternoon.Condolences to Steven’s family.🙏🏻 https://t.co/118cqJ8bop pic.twitter.com/pU5d65YiCW
The FWC later clarified that the reptile measured 11 feet, 8 inches long. Winter Garden officials stated that the alligator involved in the attack was killed. Michael Mason, a captain with the Winter Garden Police Department, said the animal was no longer a danger to the public.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Always be safe. Local wildlife, respect it, keep your distance. It looks like it’s docile, it looks like your Florida emblem, but it can be dangerous.
Michael Mason, Winter Garden Police Department
Lake Apopka Proximity and Central Florida Fatalities
Dr. Bradford Memorial Park has several small ponds connected to the larger Lake Apopka, which is well known for its alligators. On June 28, roughly four months prior to this incident, 31-year-old Brittany Clark of Orlando lost her life to an alligator while swimming in Little Big Econ State Forest near Orlando.
Her boyfriend and friends tried to save her, and someone on the 911 call reported that she lost one arm and nearly the second while losing a lot of blood.
Statewide Fatality Statistics and Safety Guidance
The year 2025 saw two fatal incidents: Cynthia Diekema, 61, who was attacked while canoeing in Polk County during May, and Deborah Herndon, 73, whose body was discovered in December at a residential pond in Pinellas County. The FWC reports that between 1948 and 2025, the state experienced 32 fatal alligator attacks out of a total of 500 incidents. There have never been more than three fatal attacks in a year.
Even though hundreds of thousands of alligators inhabit Florida, attacks by these reptiles remain relatively uncommon. According to the FWC—which recorded 13 attacks last year, comprising eight major attacks and two fatalities—the annual attack count typically stays near a dozen, with the exception of 2022 when 23 human attacks occurred.
Individuals who spot an alligator they consider dangerous can place a report via the FWC hotline by calling 866-392-4286.