Will I Get Eaten By An Alligator In Myrtle Beach?

One thing that always comes up when I tell my friends about moving to Myrtle Beach is: “If I come to visit you, will I get eaten by an alligator in Myrtle Beach?” The short answer is, “anything is possible after a few drinks and a dumb idea”.

After my last article on alligators in Myrtle Beach, this question came up more and more. Though it was mostly humorous, some were actually seriously asking me the question. Of course this peaked my curiosity! After a quick Google search, I actually did find a few cases where this happened…yep…ate by a swamp puppy. Read on.

July 4, 2022:

An elderly woman from Hilton Head tragically lost her life in a rare alligator attack on Tuesday, July 4, 2022. Holly Jenkins, 69, was walking her dog near a pond in the Spanish Wells community where she resided when the incident occurred. This unfortunate event, although uncommon in South Carolina’s history, has seen a rise in frequency over the past decade, according to Beaufort County authorities and the S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources. Via ABCNews4.com

June 24, 2022

A tragic incident unfolded in the Myrtle Beach Golf and Yacht area on Friday, resulting in the loss of one individual in an alligator attack. Horry County Fire Rescue received a water rescue call around 11:45 a.m. in the vicinity of Excalaber Court just outside of Myrtle Beach.

Upon reaching the scene, emergency units determined that an alligator had grabbed a neighbor and retreated into a nearby retention pond. Following assessment by a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) biologist and a contracted alligator removal service, it was decided that the alligator should be humanely euthanized on site.

The victim’s body was recovered from the pond, and the alligator was subsequently removed. The Horry County Coroner’s Office and the HCPD are conducting a death investigation. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Section also responded to provide assistance. Via wmbfnews.com

August 15, 2022

Authorities reported that an 88-year-old woman, identified as Nancy Becker, tragically lost her life in what appears to be an alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday.

Per the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Natural Resources, it seems that the victim was engaged in gardening activities near a pond situated in Sun City Hilton Head, an adult-only community, when she accidentally slipped into the water. The alligator was reported to be over 9 feet in length. These event marked the fifth alligator fatality since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff’s office. Via abcnews.go.com

From what’s available via news sources and the DNR of South Carolina, there have been 5 alligator fatalities from 2000 to August of 2002. Before you get scared off from a Myrtle Beach retirement, consider that Florida had 30 alligator fatalities during the same time span. The FWC has attacks listed through 2022, though there were two attacks last year in Florida — one in Largo and another in Fort Pierce. (via clickorlando.com)