Officials said the 31-year-old victim was attacked near a Seminole County trailhead.
GENEVA, Fla. — A 31-year-old woman died Sunday after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming with friends in the Little Big Econ River near the Bar Street Trailhead, Florida wildlife officials said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the attack happened around 1:30 p.m. in the Little Big Econ State Forest area of Seminole County. The woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Officials had not released her name as of Monday.
FWC, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and Seminole County Fire Department responded to the scene. Deputies closed access to the trailhead while state wildlife officers investigated. A nuisance alligator trapper was also sent to the area to search for the animal. Officials said it was not immediately clear whether the alligator had been found.
“The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time,” the agency said in a statement. The commission said the woman had been swimming with friends when the alligator bit her in the river. Authorities have not said how far she was from shore or how large the alligator was.
The attack was the third reported alligator-related incident in Central Florida within a week. A child was bitten in Marion County on Saturday, and an alligator bit a snorkeler on the Rainbow River on June 21. FWC records show Florida has tracked more than 500 alligator attacks since 1948, including 33 deaths.
Regular visitors said the river area is known for dark water and wildlife. Leo Estupinan, who fishes there, told WFTV he has seen large alligators in the area. “I’ve seen a couple big ones, probably a 12-foot gator,” Estupinan said.
The investigation remained open Monday. FWC had not announced the victim’s identity or confirmed the capture of the alligator.
Author note: Last updated June 29, 2026.