US Woman Dies After Alligator Tears Off Arm Despite Boyfriend's Heroic Rescue Bid, Father Recalls Horror

Last Updated:July 02, 2026, 09:33 IST

Brittany Clark, 31, was attacked by a giant alligator on Sunday while she was on a trip with her boyfriend Chance Allison and roommate Jayden Hernandez

The grief-stricken father of a hiker who was mauled to death by an alligator in Florida’s Little Big Econ State Forest revisited the scary final moments of his daughter. He recalled a harrowing call from her roommate who briefed him on the incident, saying how they were trying to “keep her alive" as she bled out.

Brittany Clark, a 31-year-old construction worker, was attacked by a giant alligator on Sunday while she was on a trip with her boyfriend Chance Allison and roommate Jayden Hernandez. The three were enjoying swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest, according to the New York Post. 

Clark’s father, 57-year-old Robert told the outlet: “I received a call on Sunday from Brittany’s roommate Jayden and she was explaining as it was happening. They were trying to keep her alive and waiting for the authorities to show up."

Robert, a former U.S. Navy official, spoke about how his daughter’s death had left the family in a profound state of grief. He said the family was already grieving the loss of his mother, 80-year-old Barbara, when he learnt about Clark’s death.

How Incident Unfolded

Brittany Clark was on a trip with her boyfriend Chance Allison and roommate Jayden Hernandez as they swam in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest in Florida.

Suddenly, a 13-foot alligator attacked her in just three feet of water, the New York Post reported. While Allison desperately tried to free his girlfriend from the alligator’s jaws, it further clamped onto Clark’s arms.

After minutes of struggle, the alligator finally let go of Clark. As she was brought to the riverbank, Allison performed a CPR on her. However, with one arm chopped off and another severely injured, Clark had lost an enormous amount of blood and is believed to have died on the way to hospital, said the report.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has initiated an investigation into the incident. Two alligators –– one measuring 12 feet and another 13 feet –– were captured from the region. DNA samples were dispatched for forensic testing to identify which animal was responsible.

News world US Woman Dies After Alligator Tears Off Arm Despite Boyfriend's Heroic Rescue Bid, Father Recalls Horror

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