A woman killed in a devastating alligator attack in central Florida on Sunday has been named, as a newly obtained report sheds light on the terrifying moments before her death.
Brittany Clark, 31, was hiking through the scenic Little Big Econ State Forest with her boyfriend and her best friend when the group went into a river shortly after 1:30 p.m.
Previously released 911 audio captured the panic at the scene, indicating that an alligator approached the three swimmers before launching a brutal attack on Clark and severing both of her arms.
A medical examiner’s report obtained by the Daily Mail has now provided further detail about Clark’s final moments, including how her boyfriend fought desperately against the animal as it pulled them both underwater in what is known as a “death roll.”
A “death roll” is a maneuver alligators use to overpower prey, spinning violently onto their backs while trying to drag the victim beneath the surface to drown them.
According to the report, Chance Allison put his own life in danger and was ultimately able to force Clark free from the alligator’s grip, but she could not be saved.
The report also states that authorities later located the 12-foot predator, euthanized it, and removed its head, which was retained as evidence.
The deadly encounter occurred as Clark, Allison and an unnamed friend were swimming in shoulder-deep water in the Econlockhatchee River, near a well-traveled hiking path.
The 31-year-old woman who died during a horrific alligator attack in central Florida on Sunday has been identified as Orlando native Brittany Clark
Clark had been enjoying a hike in the picturesque Little Big Econ State Forest with her boyfriend and friend when they took a dip in a river just after 1.30pm
‘While they were swimming an alligator grabbed (Clark) by her arm and began the “death roll”,’ the report reads.
‘Her boyfriend Chance grabbed the alligator trying to get it to release her when it took them both underwater’.
Allison managed to get the gator to release her arm ‘for a moment’ – but it seized its jaws on her other arm instead.
‘Chance attempted to bring them both to shore when the alligator finally let go and CPR was started on shore by her boyfriend, and 911 was called,’ the report states.
Screaming and crying could be heard in audio of the call as the alligator tore Clark’s arms from their sockets.
Allison could be heard telling call handlers he was ‘still trying to get her arms away from the alligator’s mouth’ even as he made the call.
Moments later, he told the operator that ‘both her arms, both her arms are off’, while her friend told them that one arm was ‘hanging by a thread.’
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When the dispatcher asked where the other arm was, the woman replied: ‘Gone’.
Clark’s boyfriend, Chance Allison, heroically tried to fight off the alligator, the report reveals
The report describes how Allison risked his life and eventually managed to pry his girlfriend from the gator’s jaws – but it was too late to save her
Allison described the situation as ‘bad, real bad’ while urging responders to ‘please hurry… she’s losing a lot of…’ before his voice trailed off.
The gator eventually ‘went away,’ Allison told the operator, before describing his girlfriend’s injuries as ‘horrible’.
Allison said he had stepped in to help, and he dragged Clark out of the water with the help of her friend.
‘We’re far off the trail, we’re off of a little launch area by the river… We need help now!’ he told the operator.
‘You may see a helicopter. If you see it, just try and flag it down if you can,’ the operator responded.
Barr Street Trailhead, the popular hiking route where the horror unfolded, is now closed until further notice.
The vicious attack unfolded as the trio took a dip in the shallows of the Econlockhatchee River (pictured above) in Little Big Econ State Forest, 20 miles north-east of Orlando
Clark’s Facebook page shows she was a big fan of the outdoors – pictured frequently on hikes and swimming in nature.
The horrific incident marks the third alligator attack in central Florida over the last week.
Seven days before, a gator attack was reported at Rainbow River in Merriam County, and a child was injured in another incident in the same county on Saturday.
Attacks on humans are rare in the US, according to the Florida Wildlife Commission, but alligators are more territorial during mating season, which lasts from April until the end of June.
