The victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond and apparently slipped in.
An 88-year-old woman died Monday in an apparentalligator attackin South Carolina, officials said.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and Department of Natural Resources, the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City Hilton Head, an adults-only community. , seems to have slipped.
Responders found the alligator "guarding" Becker, officials said.
The 9-foot-8-inch male crocodile was euthanized, officials said.
Becker's autopsy will take place on Tuesday, sources said.
An 88-year-old woman was apparently attacked by an alligator in South Carolina. Died August 15, 2022
WJCL
This is the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the Sheriff's Office.
Alligators are more active in the spring and summer because warmer temperatures speed up their metabolism and search for food, says Melody Kilbourne, spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. told ABC News last month.
Kilbourne urged people to follow the following safety tips. Crocodiles are most active at night, so swim only in designated swimming areas during the day. Please do not feed the crocodiles. Keep pets on a leash and away from water.
Darren Reynolds of ABC News contributed to this report.
