Fisherman Killed By 12-Foot Gator At Central FL Lake

A nearly 12-foot gator attacked and killed a 71-year-old man fishing on the shore of a central Florida lake.

By Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff

Oct 19, 2026 10:18 AM EDT

A nearly 12-foot gator attacked and killed a 71-year-old man fishing on the shore of a central Florida lake. (Courtesy of Marcy Hampton)

WINTER GARDEN, FL — A 71-year-old man was killed Friday afternoon by a nearly 12-foot alligator while fishing on the shore of a Central Florida lake.

Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden was fishing from the shore of Lake Apopka at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, 15 miles northwest of Orlando, when he was attacked by the gator around 5 p.m.

Emergency crews responded to the park around 5:20 p.m., and Hamilton's body was recovered nearly two hours later, around 7 p.m., Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35.

Though there are numerous gators in Lake Apopka, authorities trapped and killed the 11-foot, 8-inch gator they believed was the one who attacked the victim, reports said.

"Lake Apopka has tons of alligators in it, so that's not uncommon to see alligators in this part of town at all," Winter Garden police Capt. Michael Mason told WESH.

He reminded people to be aware of their surroundings and respect wildlife.

"Keep your distance," Mason said. "It looks like it's docile, it looks like your Florida emblem, but it can be dangerous."

The FWC offers the following tips for safely coexisting with alligators:

Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed them.
Swim only in designated areas during daylight hours. Gators are most active between dusk and dawn.
Keep pets on a leash and away from the water's edge. Never let them swim in fresh or brackish water.

Those who believe a gator poses a threat to people, pets or property can call the FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR. The agency will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to the area.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.