A woman died Monday in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina, authorities said.
The large alligator was spotted “near the edge of a pond” at Sun City Hilton Head, an adults-only community, “protecting what was believed to be a person,” the Sheriff’s Office said. Beaufort County.
The sheriff’s office said responders found the alligator and one person dead. The victim has not been identified.
The alligator is still being recovered from the pond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Alligators are active during the spring and summer because when temperatures rise, their metabolism increases and they look for food, Melody Kilborn, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told ABC News last month past
Kilborn urged people to follow these safety tips: alligators are most active at night, so only swim in designated swimming areas during daylight hours; never feed an alligator; and keep your pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge.
ABC News’ Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.
