Girl, 12, Attacked by 12-Foot Alligator While Playing in N.C. Lake: ‘Something Bit Me!’
A terrifying incident unfolded on Friday, June 13, when a 12-year-old girl was injured by a massive alligator while playing with other children in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina. This marks the first alligator attack ever recorded in the lake’s history.
The children were enjoying the shallow waters of the large freshwater lake when suddenly one child screamed, “Something bit me!” As the kids scrambled out of the four-foot-deep water, an alligator surfaced from the very spot, according to the Lake Waccamaw Police Department.
Authorities reported that the girl sustained serious—but thankfully not life-threatening—injuries. It remains unclear whether the wounds were caused by the alligator’s bite or claws, but officials confirmed the injuries were definitely from the animal.
Following the attack, wildlife officials “neutralized” the alligator as part of standard procedure for human encounters with these reptiles, said the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC).
Police Chief Scott Hyatt told PEOPLE that the young victim required only a few stitches and is now recovering well. He also reassured that the other children present were unharmed.
While initial reports estimated the alligator’s length at six to seven feet, further measurement revealed a much larger animal—over 12 feet long. “It’s a monster,” Hyatt remarked, highlighting the sheer size of the creature.
Lake Waccamaw is home to around 570 alligators, but until now, none had ever attacked a human there. Alicia Wassmer, an alligator biologist with NCWRC, told local news outlet WECT that the girl had done nothing to provoke the incident. Instead, it was the alligator’s unusual behavior that led to the attack.
Thankfully, this frightening encounter ended without life-threatening consequences, but it serves as a rare reminder of the powerful wildlife that shares these waters.
“Alligators very rarely enter the lake during the daytime,” explained Alicia Wassmer, an alligator biologist with the NCWRC, speaking to WECT. “It’s highly unusual for an unprovoked alligator to attack.”
Wassmer noted that the aggressive behavior seen in this incident is often linked to alligators that have been fed by humans. “That kind of behavior is very much associated with alligators that have been fed,” she said.
The NCWRC warns on its website that feeding alligators—whether intentionally or accidentally—is illegal in most states and extremely dangerous. When alligators begin to associate humans with food, it increases the risk of attacks.
In response to the incident, the Lake Waccamaw Police Department urged the public to exercise caution when enjoying the water. “Please respect the water and understand these animals are wild—not tame or pets,” they said. “If you spot an alligator, keep a safe distance at all times. And if you are in the water, leave immediately.”
