alligator attack

The alligator began to try and pull me back into the water. I was trying to pull back away from him, too. Because when an alligator has its grip on you, their next move is to try and do a death roll.

The woman is recovering in hospital following the attack at Okatie on Friday.

"The individual was videoing the alligator and walked up to the water's edge while the gator was still fully immersed," said Department of Natural Resources Assistant Chief of Wildlife Sam Chappelear.

The woman was reported to have been about four feet from the edge of the pond before she was dragged into the water by the alligator.

Officials have warned residents in the area of the attack to be vigilant when walking near ponds or lagoons.

"We got a happy ending with this one, it is a good ending. They don't always happen that way," said lieutenant Rob Gerkin, of the FWC, after the man and dog survived the gator attack.

During the study period, there were 22 confirmed fatal attacks.

"It was so shocking that it came around behind us the way that it did," the child's grandfather Clifford Gregg told local media, describing the June 1 incident.

The man was reportedly attacked after approaching the side of a pond to scare away a bird.

Police are now trying to catch and remove the alligator.

Experts say running away, making a noise and fighting back is the best way to survive a gator encounter.

Shizuka Matsuki was out walking her two dogs when a 12-foot, 6-inch alligator attacked and killed her.

A witness said he heard someone yell "it bit me, it bit me."

The 2-year-old's body was recovered Wednesday afternoon.