Firefighters raced to pull a man from the water near Lake Apopka in Winter Garden on Friday after a possible alligator attack, only to find alligators themselves standing between rescuers and the person in distress. The 911 call came in around 5:20 p.m., and crews converged on Dr. Bradford Memorial Park as the emergency unfolded. Hamilton's body was recovered around 7 p.m.
Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department Chief Jose Gainza confirmed to WESH that crews responded that afternoon to the park. Gainza said alligators were active in the area and were in the way of rescue efforts, preventing rescue swimmers from entering the water at all. Instead, rescue swimmers were attempting to get the person out by other means, according to the fire chief.
Steven Hamilton, 71, Killed in Alligator Attack
Steven Hamilton, 71, was fishing when an alligator attacked him, and his body was recovered around 7 p.m. Friday, according to Fox 35 Orlando.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was involved in the investigation, and a contracted trapper was dispatched.
Why Alligators Are a Constant Presence at Lake Apopka
The incident unfolded in an area long known for heavy alligator activity. The Lake Apopka North Shore has an abundance of alligators as a key part of its ecosystem, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District, which has long advised visitors not to enter canals or approach, feed or interact with wildlife there. The agency's guidance also notes that feeding a wild alligator is illegal.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates the state's alligator population at 1.3 million, with animals found in all 67 counties, and the agency notes that alligators tend to grow more active and visible as temperatures climb and mating season nears. FWC guidance recommends swimming only in designated areas during daylight hours, since alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
A Rising Pattern of Encounters Statewide
Friday's incident adds to a string of alligator encounters tracked across Florida this year. Through February, the state had already recorded 500 unprovoked alligator bites statewide, including 32 confirmed fatal bites before a June 28 incident in Seminole County, according to data reported by ClickOrlando. The outlet also noted that 2023 produced 23 unprovoked bites statewide, the highest single-year total in more than a decade, including two fatalities, while the decade from 2016 through 2025 saw 116 total unprovoked bites and 10 fatalities.
A separate incident in August described a woman bitten by an alligator while swimming in a Florida river, according to NBC Miami, underscoring how encounters have continued to surface across the state throughout the year. Officials in Winter Garden have not released further details on Friday's rescue, and this remains a developing story expected to be updated as more information is released.
