HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) – Authorities have identified a woman believed to have been killed by an alligator Monday morning in Sea Pines Plantation.
The Beaufort County Coroner has identified her as Cassandra Cline, 45 of Hilton Head Island.
A forensic autopsy has been scheduled to determine the official cause of death.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, deputies along with the Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue and Sea Pines Security responded to a lagoon off Wood Duck Road around 9:30 a.m. for a report of an alligator attack.
When they arrived, fire personnel located the deceased woman inside of the lagoon and recovered her body.
Witnesses say the woman was walking her dog near the lagoon when she was attacked and pulled underwater by an 8-feet-long alligator.
According to an official with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR), it appears the alligator was going after Cline’s dog. They believe she was attacked while trying to protect the dog.
Authorities say the dog didn’t appear to be harmed during the incident.
The alligator—believed responsible for the attack—was located and dispatched at the scene. SC DNR says the gator was euthanized.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Environmental Crimes Unit, Sea Pines Security and SC DNR all responded to the incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.