In Central Florida, a 71-year-old man has been killed by an alligator while fishing in a park. The man was fishing near Lake Apopka in the town of Winter Garden when the 3.7m (12ft) alligator came up to the shoreline and attacked him. The deadly attack by alligator at Lake Apopka in Florida has raised questions about how common alligators are in the state's lakes and waterways. Hamilton’s death marked the second deadly alligator attack in Florida this year.
The attack has once again brought back attention on Florida's large alligator population and the risks people face when fishing, boating or spending time near freshwater. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the state is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. They can be found in all 67 Florida counties, including lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps. Alligators are a common site in many parts of Florida, particularly in and around lakes, rivers, and grassy areas.
