Winter Garden man, 71, killed in alligator attack at park

Steven Hamilton, 71, of Winter Garden, died Oct. 16, 2026, after an alligator attacked him while he was fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park near Lake Apopka. Police Capt. Michael Mason told WESH that Hamilton was fishing along the shoreline of a retention pond.

Winter Garden Fire Rescue crews responded to a 911 call at about 5 p.m., Fire Rescue Chief Jose Gainza and Mason told WESH. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified Hamilton and said a contracted nuisance-alligator trapper was dispatched. The trapper removed an alligator measuring 11 feet 8 inches from the area.

Winter Garden police and FWC were jointly investigating, WESH reported. Witnesses were asked to contact Winter Garden police Detective Kevin Burger. The Associated Press reported that Hamilton’s death was Florida’s second fatal alligator attack reported in 2026; the first was the June death of a 31-year-old woman in Oviedo.