ORLANDO, FL — Newly released autopsy findings show how a rare alligator attack in central Florida turned deadly for Brittany Clark, who was swimming with her boyfriend in the Econlockhatchee River on June 28. Officials said the 31-year-old was mauled in Seminole County’s Little Big Econ State Forest and suffered catastrophic injuries before dying at a hospital.
The report says Clark fought for her life after the attack. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said her boyfriend, Chance Allison, tried desperately to pull her free from the animal’s mouth. The autopsy later documented near-total traumatic amputations of Clark’s left arm at the shoulder and her right forearm, along with teeth marks on her shoulder blade and collarbone.
Autopsy findings describe severe blunt-force trauma and amputations
Orange County Associate Medical Examiner Jenaye Mack conducted the autopsy and concluded that Clark died from multiple blunt-force injuries caused by the alligator. Mack ruled the death accidental.
The 11-page autopsy report gives a grim picture of the attack’s force. In addition to the major amputations, the report said Clark had bite marks on the left shoulder blade and collarbone area. Officials said she was taken toward medical care after the attack, but her injuries proved fatal before she could recover.
The findings add detail to what officials had already described as a rare and violent encounter in a state where alligator attacks do happen, but serious fatalities remain uncommon.
How the attack unfolded in the Econlockhatchee River
Clark and Allison were swimming when the alligator struck, according to state officials. The attack happened in the river inside Little Big Econ State Forest, a wooded area in Seminole County that includes natural waterways and wildlife habitat.
Allison later identified Clark’s body at Orlando Regional Medical Center that same day, according to the autopsy report. Emergency responders had been involved in the effort to get her to the hospital after the mauling.
Officials have not said what exactly triggered the animal to attack, but the incident underscores the risk of swimming in waters where large alligators may be present. Even in places where people recreate regularly, wildlife experts advise staying alert near riverbanks, shorelines and other natural water sources.
Two large alligators were removed and euthanized after the attack
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said officers removed two alligators from the river after the attack, measuring 12 feet and 13 feet long. Both were euthanized.
Later DNA testing linked the longer of the two animals to Clark, the agency said. That confirmation helped investigators narrow down which gator was involved in the fatal encounter.
FWC officials regularly track reports involving Florida’s estimated 1.3 million alligators. The agency’s response in this case followed standard efforts to identify and remove dangerous animals after a deadly attack.
Florida’s alligator attacks are rare but can be fatal
State wildlife officials say attacks on humans are uncommon in Florida, even with such a large alligator population. The FWC reported in 2022 that the state averages about eight unprovoked alligator bites a year.
Since 1948, the agency has recorded 26 fatal attacks. Those numbers show that deaths are rare compared with the number of alligators living in the state, but they also reflect the seriousness of any close encounter with a large reptile.
For residents and visitors, the key safety message remains simple: avoid risky contact with freshwater habitats, keep a safe distance from wildlife, and treat alligators as dangerous animals rather than nuisances or attractions.
Clark’s family remembered her career and plans for the future
Clark’s online obituary said she supported herself as a heavy construction equipment operator and had risen to the position of foreman. It also said she was hoping to settle down, start a family and begin new adventures.
Her survivors included her parents and two siblings, according to the obituary. A celebration of life was scheduled for July 26 at a ranch in Geneva, Florida.
The obituary’s details add a personal dimension to a violent incident that officials have described in clinical terms. For Clark’s loved ones, the autopsy findings confirmed the severity of injuries that ended her life during an afternoon in the water.
