What should have been a proud moment for a Florida fisherman turned into a deadly nightmare when a massive alligator suddenly attacked as he posed for a photograph with his latest catch.
Steven Hamilton, 71, had just reeled in a large bass and was showing it off near the shoreline when the nearly 12-foot predator lunged, grabbed his leg and dragged him into the water. Within moments, an ordinary afternoon of fishing had become a desperate emergency.
The terrifying encounter unfolded around 5 p.m. on Friday, October 16, at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden, about 15 miles northwest of Orlando.
Hamilton, a retired musician and longtime fishing enthusiast, was a familiar face at the park, where he regularly spent his afternoons casting a line in a pond near Lake Apopka.
Witness Beatrice Soto told WFTV that Hamilton had been holding up his freshly caught bass for a picture when the alligator suddenly appeared and pulled him into the water.
According to a separate account provided by local fisherman Jason Handley, Hamilton apparently heard the reptile approaching and attempted to escape but slipped near the shoreline.
“He slipped and fell, and the gator grabbed him and dragged him into the water. It just snatched him in there,” Handley told the Daily Mail.
The attack was particularly frightening because it happened while Hamilton was standing on land, rather than swimming or wading in the water.
Emergency crews rushed to the park following a 911 call, but rescuers encountered another alarming problem. Multiple alligators were active in the surrounding water, making it too dangerous for rescue swimmers to enter.
Hamilton’s body was eventually recovered approximately two hours after the attack.
A medical examiner later determined that Hamilton died from blunt-force injuries to his left leg and drowning. His death was officially ruled an accident.
Records reviewed by investigators also described the alligator resurfacing with Hamilton after initially pulling him underwater, adding another disturbing detail to the account of his final moments.
Wildlife officials subsequently captured an alligator measuring 11 feet, 8 inches near the scene. The animal, believed to be responsible for the attack, was euthanized.
The tragedy has also raised troubling questions among regular visitors to the park. One fisherman, Joey Briseno, told WESH that he had reported an aggressive alligator earlier that same morning, although he could not confirm whether it was the animal involved in Hamilton’s death. Authorities have not established that the earlier sighting involved the same alligator.
For those who knew Hamilton, the loss extends far beyond the fishing community.
Friends remembered him as a talented guitarist who had performed with local bands, including Flashback and Bones Brothers. After retiring from a career in air conditioning, he had more time to enjoy two of his greatest passions: music and fishing.
Fellow anglers described him as friendly and generous, someone who regularly shared his fishing knowledge with others.
His death was the second fatal alligator attack reported in Florida in 2026, following the death of a 31-year-old woman in the Oviedo area in June.
Although serious alligator attacks remain rare, Florida wildlife officials warn that the reptiles inhabit waterways throughout the state and can pose a danger even when they appear calm.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises residents to keep a safe distance from alligators, never feed them and report animals displaying concerning behavior to its nuisance alligator hotline at 866-392-4286.
For Hamilton’s friends and fellow fishermen, the haunting circumstances of his death have left an especially painful memory: a man enjoying one of his favorite pastimes, proudly displaying his catch, just moments before a sudden and fatal encounter.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.