Overview
- A woman in her early 30s was fatally attacked while wading in knee‑deep water of the Econlockhatchee River in Little Big Econ State Forest, and a companion suffered serious injuries after trying to rescue her.
- Emergency dispatch audio and witnesses described catastrophic arm injuries to the victim as rescuers brought the victims to medical care and later confirmed the woman’s death.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife agents captured two roughly four‑metre alligators near the scene, euthanized one animal considered a suspect and sent tissue from its head for forensic DNA analysis.
- Officials have closed the Barr Street Trailhead and are maintaining the scene while investigators and laboratories work to match animal DNA to the attack.
- Alligator encounters are rare but can rise during mating season and low water conditions, and the closure and testing are likely to shape short‑term access and safety measures for the forest.