Alligator is shot by wildlife officials after killing a snorkeller

A FOUR-METRE-LONG alligator has been shot dead by wildlife officials after it was found to be responsible for the death of a snorkeller.

Supplied Editorial alligator

WILDLIFE officials in Florida have confirmed that a man who disappeared on Monday while snorkelling in a state park, was killed by an alligator.

James Okkerse, 62, went missing in Blue Spring State Park on Monday morning. His body was found later in the afternoon.

The Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office in Florida has ruled his death as being consistent with an alligator attack, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

Killed ... The alligator had been spotted around the Blue Spring State Park in Florida, and had forced officials to close a swimming area. Picture: FOX 35

The four-metre alligator had previously been spotted in the area, and officials had been forced to close a swimming area the weekend before Okkerse’s death. Officials say the animal was killed because of the threat it posed to park guests.

Okkerse, who had been snorkelling with friends, was found near the alligator following several hours of searching.

Carol Anen and her husband, who had been snorkelling with Okkerse, reported him missing, according to US news station Fox 35.

The trio met weekly to swim in the park, with Anen reportedly describing Okkerse as a “very strong swimmer” and a “healthy” man, WFTV reported.

Victim ... James Okkerse died while snorkelling with friends. Picture: Facebook

‘Strong swimmer ‘ ... Rangers knew James Okkerse as he had been swimming in the park for 20 years. Picture: Facebook

Okkerse was wearing a mask and a snorkel when he vanished.

Anen said: “I went up to the hole to see where he was and I saw him floating along, I thought he was diving.

“When I got there, he totally disappeared.”

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Lenny Salberg would not say if there were signs of an alligator attack during a press briefing on Monday, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

He said: “I don’t know if there were bite marks on the body or not. We found the body on the bottom.”

Closed ... An area of Blue Spring State Park was sealed off after the incident. Picture: FOX 35

Officials have confirmed that Okkerse was not missing any limbs, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Park rangers knew Okkerse because he had been swimming at Blue Spring, which is known for attracting manatees during the winter with its warm water, for more than 20 years.

Lenny Salberg of Florida Fish and Wildlife said: “If you got any kind of wild animal, alligator or whatever, that’s being aggressive to you, you need to pull back and call law enforcement and FWC.”