A Florida man made a desperate 911 call as an alligator ripped off both arms of his girlfriend during a swim in a river, telling the emergency operator: “Both her arms are dislocated – off basically” and “One arm is completely off.”
Brittany Clark, 31, from Orlando, was attacked on Sunday in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest, about 25 miles north-east of the city. She and her boyfriend Chance had stopped to swim in around 3ft of water while hiking, according to officials.
“Boyfriend's 911 call reveals alligator ripped off hiker's arms during fatal attack in Florida river.”
A medical examiner’s report obtained by the Daily Mail provides a nightmarish account of the final moments. “While they were swimming an alligator grabbed [Clark] by her arm and began the ‘death roll’,” the report states. “Her boyfriend Chance grabbed the alligator trying to get it to release her when it took them both underwater.”
Chad Weber, spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), told a press conference on Monday that the couple “were hiking and they just stopped to swim”. He added: “It doesn’t seem they were doing anything malicious. They were in approximately 3ft of water.”
Weber said Clark was bitten on both arms, and her boyfriend made the 911 call. “He was trying to get her from the alligator’s mouth, and on the way to the hospital she did pass away from her injuries,” he said.
Authorities removed and euthanised two alligators – 12ft and 13ft in length – from the river. Weber said the reptiles were sent off for DNA testing. “We offer our condolences to this young lady’s family,” he added, without disclosing the victim’s identity at the time.
Clark has since been identified as the victim, prompting an outpouring of grief. The investigation into the rare and fatal attack is ongoing.