The 71-year-old man who was killed by an alligator while fishing in Winter Garden Friday was posing for a photo holding up a fish when the alligator grabbed him, Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner’s Office announced Monday.
Steve Hamilton was fishing at the Dr. Bradford Memorial Park near Lake Apopka Friday when the incident occurred. Winter Garden police and fire departments responded to reports of a man being attacked around 5 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Orange-Osceola medical examiner confirmed Hamilton died from “blunt force” injuries to his left leg and drowning. His death was ruled accidental.
Also in the medical examiner’s report, neighbors who reportedly witnessed the incident said the alligator grabbed Hamilton while he was taking photos of himself fishing. They say the gator dragged him into the water, brought him back up, but did not release him. He was repeatedly submerged and brought back up.
The alligator, which was 12 feet long, was killed by trappers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“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 reporters Friday night.
Hamilton is the second person to be killed by an alligator in Florida this year. In June, 31-year-old Brittany Clark died after being bitten by an alligator while she was swimming in the Econlockhatchee River in Seminole County.
The FWC said Clark was swimming with friends in the river near the Barr Street Trailhead in Little Big Econ State Forest when the incident occurred. Clark was brought to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
It was also the third recorded alligator bite in Central Florida that week.
A child was bitten on the hand by an 8-foot-7-inch alligator while fishing at Nelson’s Outdoor Resort on June 27, and a person was bitten while snorkeling in Marion County’s Rainbow River on June 21.
Alligator mating season is in full swing from May to June, with hatching season occurring in August and September, according to the FWC.
The FWC says people concerned about an alligator can call their Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). A gator is generally considered a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet in length; if it is believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property; or if it is found somewhere it should not be, such as a swimming pool, home, garage, etc.
The University of Florida released a study in April 2025 finding that the No. 1 cause of alligator bite incidents in Florida is “risky human behavior.” Researchers recommend avoiding entering bodies of water or areas where alligators are known to live.
