Woman dies on hike with boyfriend after alligator ripped her arms off
A 31-year-old woman has died after an alligator ripped both of her arms off while she was hiking with her boyfriend and best friend in central Florida.
The vicious attack unfolded as the trio took a dip in the shallows of the Econlockhatchee River in Little Big Econ State Forest, located about 20 miles northeast of Orlando.
The hikers waded into water at about 1.30pm to cool off when the alligator pounced on the woman, who has not yet been publicly identified.
Screaming and crying could be heard in harrowing audio of the 911 call her boyfriend made to emergency services as the predator tore off her limbs.
He could be heard telling call handlers he was 'still trying to get her arms away from the alligator's mouth' as he made the call.
Moments later, he told the operator that 'both her arms, both her arms are off', while her friend told them that one arm was 'hanging by a thread'.
When the dispatcher asked where the other arm was, the woman replied: 'Gone'.
The victim's boyfriend described the situation as 'bad, real bad' while urging responders to 'please hurry... she's losing a lot of...' he said before trailing off.
A 31-year-old woman has died after an alligator ripped both of her arms off while she was hiking with her boyfriend and best friend in central Florida
The vicious attack unfolded as the trio took a dip in the shallows of the Econlockhatchee River (pictured above) in Little Big Econ State Forest, 20 miles north-east of Orlando
The gator eventually 'went away', the boyfriend told the operator, before describing his girlfriend's injuries as 'horrible'.
He said he had stepped in to help, and he dragged his girlfriend out of the water with the help of her friend.
'We're far off the trail, we're off of a little launch area by the river ... We need help now!' he told the operator.
'You may see a helicopter. If you see it, just try and flag it down if you can,' the operator responded.
The victim, who was from Orlando, was rushed to hospital, but she died en route.
She had been relaxing close to Barr Street Trailhead, a popular hiking route, which is now closed until further notice.
Officials who combed the scene in the aftermath found two alligators - one 12ft long and the other 13ft.
The animals have undergone DNA testing to determine which one attacked the hiker.
She had been hiking close to Barr Street Trailhead, a popular walking route close to Orlando
The horrific incident marks the third alligator attack in central Florida over the last week.
Seven days before, a gator attack was reported at Rainbow River in Merriam County, and a child was injured in another incident in the same county on Saturday.
Attacks on humans are rare in the US, according to the Florida Wildlife Commission, but alligators are more territorial during mating season, which lasts from April until the end of June.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
