Alligator emerges among swimming kids, seriously injuring 1 in lake, NC cops say
A submerged alligator managed to work its way into a group of children playing in a lake, resulting in one being seriously injured, according to police in North Carolina.
It happened Friday, June 13, in Lake Waccamaw, and it is unclear if the child was bitten or clawed by the reptile, the Lake Waccamaw Police Department said in a news release. The victim was identified as a 12-year-old girl by WBTW.
The alligator was estimated at 6 to 7 feet in length, officials said.
“There were multiple children playing in about 4 (feet) of water when one exclaimed ‘something bit me!’ All the children were rushed out of the water and (an) alligator surfaced in the area they had been,” police said.
“The injuries sustained were serious but not life threatening in any way. It is also unclear ... if the injuries were caused by a bite, or a claw. But they were definitely caused by the alligator. The alligator responsible for this incident has been neutralized.”
Details of the injuries were not released.
Alligators are native to southeastern North Carolina and Lake Waccamaw is within their range, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reports. Males can reach 13 feet and 500 pounds in the state’s waterways, officials say.
“We remind our residents and visitors to remain ever vigilant and aware of their surroundings. In this particular case, the gator was never seen till after the incident occurred, and multiple adults were present,” police officials said.
“Please respect the water and understand these animals are not tame or pets. If you see one, maintain a safe distance at all times. And exit the water if you are in it.”
Lake Waccamaw’s “tea-colored waters” provide good cover for the reptiles. The lake is one of the state’s Carolina bays, which are “the greatest geological mysteries of the eastern United States,” Visitnc.com reports. The oval-shaped bodies of water were long believed to have been created when meteor fragments skidded across the earth. Scientists now believe they were caused by ancient winds.
This story was originally published June 16, 2025 at 7:56 AM with the headline "Alligator emerges among swimming kids, seriously injuring 1 in lake, NC cops say."