Woman dies after alligator bites her arm off in Florida

A string of alligator attacks across central Florida has left multiple people injured, with the most recent attack killing a 31-year-old woman who had one of her arms bitten off.

Serious encounters with alligators are relatively rare, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data (FWC), but there have been three attacks in the state over the past week.

Two of them came within 24 hours of each other, according to ITV News’ US partner CNN.

The victim of the latest attack had reportedly been swimming with her boyfriend and friend in the Econlockhatchee River, just north of Orlando, on Sunday afternoon before the alligator attacked her.

Officials said that her boyfriend had tried to pull her out of the alligator’s mouth. She had suffered bites to both her arms and later died while being taken to the hospital.

FWC officials captured a 13-foot alligator at the scene, and a 12-footer nearby, and both are having their DNA tested to see who could have been responsible for the attack.

Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, but attacks on people remain uncommon.

An average of around eight unprovoked bites occurs each year, according to figures. Since 1948, Florida has recorded more than 450 alligator attacks, with only 30 resulting in fatalities.

The highest number of fatal attacks occur when people deliberately enter waterways known to contain alligators.

How dangerous are alligators to humans?

American alligators are dangerous apex predators, capable of inflicting severe or even fatal injuries on humans.

But fatal attacks are extremely rare. Alligators naturally fear humans and typically retreat when approached.

However, any alligator measuring over 6 feet poses a threat, and males typically can reach around 14 feet in length when fully grown.

Their danger to humans is increased if they feel threatened, are protecting their nest, or are habituated to being fed by people.

Alligators that have lost their fear of humans, associating them with free food, are far more dangerous than wild alligators who are not used to human presence.

Most attacks from alligators happen near water, where alligators can use stealth to sneak up on their prey.

Small pets or dogs are frequently mistaken for natural prey by alligators and bring them into closer proximity to their owners.