Myrtle Beach Alligator Attack: South Carolina Resident Killed After Being Dragged Into Pond

A resident of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, died after an 11-foot alligator attacked and dragged them into a retention pond.

The incident took place on Friday at about 11:45 a.m. ET. The Horry County Police Department responded to a water rescue call at the Myrtle Beach Golf and Yacht Club.

The police and the wildlife section of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) arrived on the scene and determined that an alligator attacked and had taken hold of the victim while they were near the retention pond.

The reptile then retreated into the body of water, according to a Facebook post from the authorities.

Following the attack, the victim’s body was recovered from the pond. Officials have not revealed the identity of the victim.

“Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident,” the police department said in a statement.

A biologist from the SCDNR and an alligator removal service contracted by the agency “determined that the alligator should be humanely euthanized on site.”

The Horry County Police Department has since launched an investigation into the death of the victim.

This isn’t the first time an alligator has been spotted in the Myrtle Beach community. In May, a resident took to Twitter to post a photo of three alligators behind his condo.

According to a guide published earlier this year by the SCDNR, the state has approximately 100,000 alligators. The guide noted that “agent trappers harvest approximately 250-300 problem alligators annually in South Carolina.”