A 12-year-old girl was injured in a rare alligator attack at Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, on Friday, June 13—the first incident of its kind ever reported in the area, according to local authorities.
Several children were playing in the shallow, four-foot-deep water when one of them suddenly shouted, “Something bit me!” As the kids rushed out of the lake, an alligator surfaced in the same spot, the Lake Waccamaw Police Department said.
The injured girl was quickly treated for her wounds. While the injuries were considered serious, they were not life-threatening. “She had a few stitches and, other than that, she’s doing great,” Lake Waccamaw Police Chief Scott Hyatt told PEOPLE. He also confirmed that the rest of the children are “all fine.”
At first, the alligator was thought to be about six to seven feet long. But once officials measured it, they found it was over 12 feet in length. “It’s a monster,” Hyatt said.
Authorities “neutralized” the animal after the incident, which the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) explained is standard protocol when an alligator poses a danger to people.
Alicia Wassmer, an alligator biologist with NCWRC, emphasized that the young girl didn’t provoke the attack in any way. In fact, she said, the gator’s behavior was highly unusual—especially during daylight hours. “They very rarely get into the lake during the day,” Wassmer told WECT, adding that the animal’s actions resembled those of an alligator that had been fed by humans.
Feeding alligators is both dangerous and illegal in most states, including North Carolina. When alligators start associating people with food, it increases the risk of aggressive encounters.
Lake Waccamaw, a large freshwater lake, is home to an estimated 570 alligators, but this was the first time one had attacked a human.
The Lake Waccamaw Police Department issued a warning to residents and visitors: “Please respect the water and understand these animals are not tame or pets. If you see one, keep your distance—and get out of the water.”
