A South Carolina man was killed Friday after officials say an 11-foot alligator attacked him and pulled him into a retention pond.
In a Facebook post, the Horry County Police Department said they responded to a water rescue call around 11:45 a.m. Friday near the Myrtle Beach Golf & Yacht Club.
They and members of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Section and SCDNR Law Enforcement Division also responded to assist.
When they arrived at the scene, it was determined that the alligator grabbed the unidentified man standing near a retention pond and pulled him in.
The man’s body was later recovered from the pond, and officials determined that the alligator should be euthanized on site.
FOX News correspondent Phil Keating reports there are millions of alligators in the United States, from Texas to the Carolinas.
Florida has an estimated alligator population of about 1.3 million with a yearly average of seven unprovoked attacks that require medical attention, Keating reported.
Louisiana has an estimated 2 million alligators.
People living in or visiting areas where alligators are known to be living should be cautious when walking and should keep a close eye on pets and children.
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