Brittany Clark’s boyfriend is opening up about the terrifying moment he realized she was not joking when an alligator suddenly appeared during what had begun as an ordinary outing in Central Florida.
Clark, 31, was visiting Little Big Econ State Forest with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, and her roommate, Jayden Hernandez, when the group entered the Econlockhatchee River. What started as a peaceful hike quickly turned into a nightmare.
According to Allison, the first moments were filled with confusion. He said that when the alligator suddenly surfaced, he initially thought Brittany might have been joking.
But within seconds, that confusion turned into fear as he realized the danger was real. Allison said his only instinct was to jump in and try to help her.
He later told the New York Post that the entire encounter may have lasted less than a minute, but in the moment, it felt much longer. The fear, panic, and helplessness of those seconds have stayed with him ever since.
Allison said he tried desperately to pull Brittany away as the situation unfolded. Emergency responders were called, and Brittany was later taken to a nearby hospital.
Before the terrifying moment, Hernandez said the group had noticed bubbles in the water and even joked about the possibility of an alligator being nearby. None of them imagined the danger was so close.
Bodycam footage released by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office later showed the urgent response after deputies arrived at the scene. The video captured officers rushing through the wooded area to reach the riverbank.
Allison said he set up a temporary shelter to help protect Brittany from the intense Florida sun while they waited for emergency crews. It was one of many heartbreaking details from a day that changed everything.
He admitted that the group knew alligators lived in the area, but said they had visited before without any problems. According to him, they had been there in the past and never experienced anything like this.
Since the tragedy, Allison said the memories have been difficult to process. He described the experience as one of the most frightening moments of his life and said the first few nights afterward were especially hard.
Even in his grief, Allison said he has been touched by the support he has received from family, friends, and strangers. Still, he said the loss feels impossible to accept.
He remembered Brittany as an amazing woman with so much life ahead of her. His words have added an emotional layer to a story that has already left many people heartbroken.
Allison is now planning a public celebration of Brittany’s life and expects many people to attend. He said he wants her friends and loved ones to have a place to come together and honor her memory.
In the days after her passing, Allison also shared one of Brittany’s final wishes. He said she asked him to make sure her beloved German Shepherd, Hokie, would be cared for. Allison has since taken Hokie and her cat, Shady, into his home, keeping his promise as he continues to grieve the woman he loved.
