A hiker’s friend recounted a chilling moment just before a 13-foot alligator attacked and killed her while she was swimming in a Florida river. Brittany Clark, 31, was enjoying a day out with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, in the Econlockhatchee River when tragedy struck on Sunday.
Allison reportedly fought to pull Clark from the alligator’s grasp, but she had suffered severe injuries.
Jayden Hernandez, who joined Clark on the trip, expressed his heartbreak in a Facebook post, stating he would never forget the harrowing events. “Words can’t describe how I feel. I lost my best friend right in front of my eyes,” he mentioned.
Before the attack, Hernandez recalled that the group had even joked about the possibility of an alligator lurking in the murky water. They had noticed some bubbles forming and mused about the creature hiding beneath the surface. Chance swam over to investigate, assuring them there was nothing to worry about.
Hernandez remarked on how they laughed at the thought of Chance pretending to be attacked, believing it was simply a funny moment. But mere minutes later, that joke turned into a nightmare when Brittany was attacked.
Later, Hernandez noted they were playing around in the water with their dog when the situation escalated. After Brittany was bitten, she was still conscious and reportedly screamed for help and guidance during the frantic moments that followed.
“We called for help, and it felt like forever, though it was only 12 minutes,” she wrote. “My best friend showed incredible strength in those minutes.” He added heartfelt condolences, expressing that he wouldn’t wish such pain upon anyone, acknowledging the undeniable impact Brittany had on the lives she touched. “God rest her soul, she was pure gold,” he concluded.
Chad Weber from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that Brittany died due to her injuries on the way to the hospital. She had sustained bites to both arms, and her boyfriend had made the emergency call, attempting to save her while they rushed to get help.
Weber stated that initial investigations showed no signs of provocation toward the alligator and suggested that the attack may have been influenced by factors like low water levels or the alligator’s territorial behavior.
Disturbing audio from the 911 call captured the frantic situation, with one caller describing the extent of Clark’s injuries, stating one arm was completely severed while the other was barely attached. The urgency in Allison’s voice as he pleaded for help was palpable as he expressed, “Please hurry, she’s bleeding a lot… we have to stop the bleeding.”
