Alligator dragged fisherman, 71, into Florida lake after he 'posed for a photograph'

A 71-year-old man who died in a horrific alligator attack was dragged into the water as he posed for a photo, witnesses have said.

Steve Hamilton was out fishing in Winter Garden Park, Florida on Friday (16 October) when he was attacked by an almost-12-feet-long alligator.

Hamilton, a musician, regularly visited the Dr Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden to go fishing.

On Friday, a witness said that Hamilton had managed to catch a fish and wanted to pose with it for a photo when disaster struck.

“He caught a bass. He held it up for whoever it was to take a picture of him, and the gator came up and grabbed him by the leg and pulled him in,” witness Beatrice Soto told WFTV.

Hamilton was dragged under the water by the alligator, according to an Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner’s Office report obtained by PEOPLE.

Trappers removed a huge alligator from the scene (NBC News)

The gator then brought Hamilton to the surface but did not let go.

Trappers sprung into action and were able to subdue the alligator and free Hamilton, but he was sadly pronounced dead shortly after.

Connor Kelley, who also regularly uses the park, said he knew Hamilton and that he was a ‘kind man’.

Speaking to WESH, he said: “As I was leaving to go home, I heard someone say apparently it was an older gentleman who fishes there every night, and just immediately my stomach dropped because I was so worried it was Steve, and it turns out it unfortunately was.

“He was a very kind man, very relatable.”

He went on to say that the death was reminder for those living in the area of the dangers of alligators.

"He was not someone that, you know, was harassing any alligators or anything like that. It was just a very unfortunate event that happened and a very sober reminder of, you know, how just mindful to be around water in Florida," Kelley said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement: “The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time.”

The FWC has issued a statement following the incident (WFTV)

The FWC also confirmed that a contracted nuisance alligator trapper had removed an 11-feet-eight-inch gator from the area.

The spokesperson added: “This is an active investigation, and this is all the information available at this time.”

It’s the second fatal alligator attack in Florida since June, when Brittany Clark, 31, died on the Econlockhatchee River.

However, the FWC has stressed that such incidents are thankfully rare.

“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida,” the FWC said.

“The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.

“People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

“When someone concerned about an alligator calls the Nuisance Alligator Hotline, we will dispatch one of our contracted nuisance alligator trappers to resolve the situation.”

A 2022 report commissioned by the FWC found an average of about eight alligator bites annually and 26 fatalities since 1948.