Hilton Head alligator attack: Woman killed while trying to save her dog in private South Carolina resort
Witnesses say the alligator dragged the woman underwater at a lagoon
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A woman was killed while trying to protect her dog from an alligator attack at a private resort in South Carolina, officials have said.
The Beaufont County Sheriff’s said that it responded to a report that an alligator had attacked a woman at the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, early on Monday morning.
Witnesses told authorities the woman, who officials identified as 45-years-old Cassandra Cline, was walking her dog when an alligator attacked her and pulled her underwater.
“When they arrived, fire personnel located the deceased woman inside of the lagoon and recovered her body, while deputies interviewed witnesses,” the sheriff’s office statement read.
“She was walking the dog near the lagoon and the alligator came out of the water and tried to get the dog,”David Lucas, a spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said. “The lady tried to rescue the dog and a maintenance worker ran over to help.”
Both were trying to save the dog, but the alligator dragged the woman into the water, he told the Associated Press.
The deceased woman’s dog did not appear to be harmed during the incident, officials said. A forensic autopsy has been scheduled to determine the woman's cause of death. The 8-foot alligator believed to be responsible for the attack has been located, the sheriff's office stated. It is said to have been killed.
Since 1976, there have only been about 20 attacks on people in the state, according to Mr Lucas. Until 2016, none of those attacks had been fatal. In 2016, a 90-year-old woman wandered away from a Charleston assisted living facility and was found dead in a pond.
"We are extremely saddened by this news and will share information with the community as it is made available," Sea Pines said in a statement.
Associated Press contributed to this report
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments