An elderly fisherman was killed by an alligator while posing with his catch on the shore of a popular lake in central Florida.

Steven Hamilton, 71, was fatally attacked by a 12-foot alligator beside Lake Apopka at Dr Bradford Memorial Park on Friday, as horrified witnesses looked on.

Hamilton was holding up a fish for a photograph when the alligator lunged, seized him by the leg and dragged him into the water, according to witness Beatrice Soto.

‘He caught a bass. He held it up for whoever it was to take a picture of him, and the gator came up and grabbed him by the leg and pulled him in,’ Soto told WFTV9.

Hamilton, a seasoned fisherman from Winter Gardens and a veteran musician on the Orlando circuit, died from his injuries at the scene.

Emergency responders said retrieving his body from the lake took time because several alligators were circling in the water after the attack.

Footage from the aftermath shows around a dozen trappers struggling to pull the alligator involved in the fatal attack from the lake.

Officials hauled the animal by its mouth from the lakeside and across a nearby grassy bank before shooting it dead.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said the alligator was decapitated, with its head taken away as evidence.

People who live near the park said Hamilton was a familiar face and a regular visitor to the popular fishing location.

‘He was out there almost every single night fishing,’ Connor Kelley told WESH2.

‘Every time it was a, “Hey Steve, how’s it going?” You know, just checking in.

‘He was a very kind man. Very relatable. I heard from someone else in town that he had helped her kids with fishing down there a few times.’

Jason Handley, another regular fisherman at the park, said he went to the scene on Friday soon after learning about the alligator attack.

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‘As I was leaving to go home, I heard someone say apparently it was an older gentleman who fishes there every night,’ he said.

‘Just immediately my stomach dropped because I was so worried it was Steve, and it turns out it unfortunately was.’

Orlando native Christine Pompilio said Hamilton was ‘well known in the music industry here in the Orlando area’ through almost four decades of playing in local bands.   

Pompilio, who is managing partner at Jax 5th Avenue in Lake Mary, said Hamilton used to play at the venue with Bone Bros Band. 

‘He was very, very talented, played different instruments, and would share all that knowledge with everybody that came along and joined in,’ she told WFTV9. 

It comes less than four months after 31-year-old Brittany Clark was killed by a 12-foot alligator in another nature spot just outside of Orlando. 

Clark had been enjoying a hike in the picturesque Little Big Econ State Forest with her boyfriend and friend when they took a dip in a river in June. 

Chilling 911 audio from the scene previously revealed how an alligator stealthily approached the trio before viciously attacking Clark by tearing off both of her arms.

A medical examiner’s report obtained by the Daily Mail also gave more details about Clark’s final moments, including how her boyfriend heroically fought the gator even as it dragged them both underwater into a ‘death roll’.  

A ‘death roll’ is a technique alligators use to subdue prey by violently twisting onto their backs before attempting to pull the victim underwater to drown them.  

The report describes how Chance Allison risked his life and eventually managed to pry his girlfriend from the gator’s jaws – but it was too late to save her. 

Alligator 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.

CHICAGO — A sixth beluga whale rescued from Canada has died while in the care of SeaWorld San Diego.

Nine-year-old Cyprus died Sunday night after abruptly stopping eating.

SeaWorld San Diego said Cyprus had been doing well after his arrival. He had been eating regularly, adjusting to his new surroundings and interacting with trainers, animal care staff and the two other rescued belugas.

An ultrasound found a potentially serious intestinal issue, and additional testing is planned.

SeaWorld noted that, like many species, belugas may conceal discomfort or underlying health problems that are not immediately apparent.

The other rescued belugas at SeaWorld San Diego remain in stable condition, according to the facility.

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Since August, four additional rescued whales have died at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.

Shedd Aquarium said it is encouraged by the progress of the six remaining rescued belugas, adding that all are making nutritional gains.

Earlier this summer, 30 beluga whales and four dolphins were rescued from Marineland, a closed theme park in Ontario, Canada.

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New York City is moving in the right direction, Mayor Zohran Mamdani says.

But Mamdani declined Monday to say whether he would increase police patrols in the subway system after a security guard was fatally shot on a Midtown platform while heading to work.

Pressed on whether he would send more officers underground to reassure straphangers following Saturday’s brazen attack, Mamdani offered no clear plan. The gunman remained at large.

“I have full confidence in our PD in their work to apprehend the suspect, and I am confident in the approach that they are taking at this time,” the Democratic socialist mayor told reporters during an unrelated news conference in The Bronx.

Mamdani expressed condolences to the family of Darell Rodriguez, 26, who was shot in the chest shortly before 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the 53rd Street/7th Avenue subway station. The masked attacker has not been arrested.

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“I am heartbroken and outraged by this shooting,” Mamdani said, but he did not directly answer a reporter’s question about the city’s response to the shocking violence.

“Every single New Yorker deserves to be safe on every single train, on every single subway platform, no matter where they’re going across our five boroughs, and we know that we’ve made strides in making our subway safer, and we also know that this shooting serves as an incredibly painful reminder of all that still has to be done to root out the scourge of gun violence from across our city,” he said.

“And at this time, you know, my heart goes out to the family of the individual who was killed, to the loved ones of the individual who was killed.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

A 21-year-old Louisiana State University student and her firefighter fiancé, who had been high school sweethearts, were killed early Sunday when a woman allegedly struck them as they walked along the shoulder of a Baton Rouge road.

The Baton Rouge Police Department identified the victims as Leah Fonte and Shane Hirstius, both 21 and engaged. Police arrested 20-year-old Mia Dawson in connection with the crash. She faces charges of operating while impaired, reckless operation of a vehicle, hit-and-run driving, vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injuring.

Authorities said Dawson veered off the roadway at about 2:40 a.m. Sunday and hit Fonte and Hirstius as they walked on the right shoulder.

Fonte died at the scene. Hirstius was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The River Ridge Volunteer Fire Department honored Hirstius in a Facebook post, writing: “Shane was much more than a firefighter. He was a person with an enormous heart, an unforgettable smile, and a genuine passion for helping others.”

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“He gave 110% of himself to his responsibilities as a first responder, always willing to step forward when someone needed help. His dedication, compassion, and commitment to serving others represented the very best of what it means to be a firefighter,” the department said.

According to LSU, Fonte was a senior studying biological sciences at the university.

“On behalf of the LSU System and all nine of the institutions that make up our LSU family, we send sincere condolences to the Fonte family as they learn of Leah’s passing,” LSU President Wade Rousse said. “We pray that God will comfort those she loved during this time of reflection and mourning.”

Walking in the Victoria’s Secret show is no longer viewed as a young woman’s game, as a lineup of familiar models in their 30s and 40s returned to the catwalk on Sunday night.

Supermodel Adriana Lima, 45, who made her Victoria’s Secret debut in 1999, returned to the runway alongside Irina Shayk, 40, who was making her first appearance at the show in a decade.

Brazilian model Caroline Trentini, 39, confidently showed off her figure at Sunday night’s California show, having first walked for the brand in 2005. Puerto Rican star Joan Smalls, 38, was another model approaching 40 to make a comeback at the fashion event.

Several of the more mature models returning to the American lingerie brand’s runway appeared remarkably youthful, with smooth complexions and few visible signs of ageing.

Clinical facialist Smita Ahluwalia told The Daily Mail: ‘Some of these models have definitely had some work done. They have sharper jawlines, raised eyebrows, fuller cheeks and very glass-like skin.’

‘I’d say they may have had Botox in their foreheads to soften frown lines and lift the brows, along with fillers to restore volume to the cheekbones or add fullness wherever needed.’

‘Filler can also be used to straighten a bump in the nose. Lip filler may make the lips appear fuller while improving their proportion with the chin.’

‘They may even have undergone surgery around the eyes to raise the brows or reduce puffiness. Their smooth-looking skin could have been achieved through skin boosters, peels and regular facials.’

Read on to see how experts believe the models’ appearances have changed over the years—and the treatments they think may have contributed to their youthful complexions.

CAROLINE TRENTINI, 39

Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics, said some of the models look ‘remarkably different’ from their Victoria’s Secret debuts when compared with their returns to the runway on Sunday night.

‘Caroline looks remarkably different from when she first walked for Victoria’s Secret,’ Dr Perry said. ‘Her figure appears slimmer, while changes to her skin tone and hair colour give her a more polished appearance and make a considerable difference to her overall look.’

‘Her lips look noticeably fuller today, so I suspect she may have had a small amount of filler. Her skin also appears exceptionally smooth, with very few visible signs of ageing, which could indicate Botox around the eyes and forehead.’

‘A consistent skincare routine, possibly including laser treatments, as well as avoiding excessive sun exposure, may also have contributed to Caroline looking so good.’

The Brazilian supermodel, who first appeared on a Victoria’s Secret runway in 2005, has never confirmed undergoing plastic surgery. Instead, she has attributed her glass-like skin to maintaining a strong skincare routine.

JOAN SMALLS, 38

‘Joan Smalls has probably aged the best of all the models—you can barely tell the two images apart,’ the expert explained. ‘She appears to have been blessed with good genetics and exceptional skin.’

‘She has a naturally slender build, so her weight appears to have remained consistent over the years. Aside from a healthy lifestyle and an effective skincare routine, I’d suggest she has had very little work done, other than perhaps non-invasive skin boosters and possibly a small amount of Botox.’

Professor Ali Al-Hussaini, a facial plastic surgeon and managing director of Elevate Medical & Aesthetic Clinic, agreed, adding: ‘Her skin looks beautifully smooth, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had some subtle Botox and collagen-stimulating treatments to keep it looking youthful.’

Joan, who made her debut at a VS show in 2011, has never confirmed she’s had plastic surgery, instead attributing her radiant complexion to a simple beauty regime and clever makeup tricks, including contouring, or like she apparently calls it, ‘sculpting’.

IRINA SHAYK, 40

Dr Farah Latif, physician and medical director at Elevate Medical & Aesthetic Clinic, said: ‘Irina Shayk has always had one of the most striking faces in modelling, and she looks just as beautiful today. 

‘Her cheekbones remain incredibly prominent, and she’s maintained that sculpted appearance without losing her natural features. 

‘It’s possible that subtle Botox and skin treatments have helped keep her complexion looking so smooth, while treatments such as micro needling can help improve mild skin laxity and support facial definition as we age. 

‘Irina also has a naturally athletic figure, and maintaining that level of fitness takes consistency. Her appearance is a good example of how genetics, lifestyle and potentially subtle treatments can work together.’

Irina has consistently denied undergoing plastic surgery, and in 2019, the Russian model hit back at rumours that she’d had lip fillers.

She told Harper’s Bazaar: ‘Look, if somebody wants to inject their lips because they feel bad, God bless them. I don’t judge anyone.

‘I always promote natural beauty because I think we live in this perfect world where everyone wants to be perfect. But I’m not perfect. Sometimes I have a double chin. Perfection doesn’t exist.’

She added: ‘I’m going to have wrinkles and I have wrinkles. You just have to accept the idea of aging and of bodies at every stage, and just celebrate it. In life, we have to let it go and understand it’s a human process not to be perfect.’

She credited her looks to genes, gua sha-inspired facial workouts at FaceGym, and avoiding alcohol and smoking. 

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a smooth-edged tool is used to gently scrape areas of the skin to improve circulation.

In 2015, a year before her Victoria’s Secret show debut, Irina told The Telegraph: ‘I don’t believe in plastic surgery. I believe women have to love their bodies, and that it’s all about confidence.’

ADRIANA LIMA

‘Adriana Lima has always had incredible bone structure, and that’s something that really contributes to her youthful appearance,’ insisted Fadi Hamadani, international plastic surgeon.

‘Her cheekbones and facial features remain beautifully defined, and she’s aged extremely well. 

‘It’s possible that subtle filler and Botox have helped maintain that smooth, lifted appearance, alongside regular skin treatments such as chemical peels and collagen-stimulating treatments. 

‘Her body is also in incredible shape, and she’s well known for her dedication to fitness. She still looks recognisably Adriana, even after decades on the runway.’

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Fans have previously speculated that Adriana, who has not confirmed any plastic surgery, tweaked her face in 2023, after she had just given birth to her third child.

However, the Brazilian model responded with a makeup free selfie on her social media, with the caption: ‘The face of a tired mum of one teenage girl, two pre-teens, one active boy, a one-year old learning to walk, and three dogs… thanks for your concern.’ 

She is also stepmother to her husband film producer Andre Lemmers’ two children from a previous relationship.

ELSA HOSK 

Dr Perry said: ‘Elsa Hosk looks very different in 2026 compared to 2011. Firstly, we’re seeing a very different nose so I suspect she’s undergone a nose job here.

‘Equally we’re seeing a much fuller-looking mouth which I suspect has been achieved with filler. 

‘The eye area also looks very different so again possibly upper and lower blepharoplasty (a cosmetic procedure that removes excess skin or fat from the eyelids to improve their appearance).

Swedish fashion model Elsa, 37, has not officially confirmed undergoing any plastic surgery. 

BARBARA PALVIN

‘Barbara Palvin looks a lot different,’ insisted Dr Perry when comparing her catwalk appearance on Sunday night to her debut in 2012.

He added: ‘She originally epitomised the all-American girl-next-door in terms of looks and was incredibly natural. 

‘Today we’re seeing a much more chiselled and defined facial appearance. A possible nose job, fuller lips, higher cheekbones and a more defined chin. 

‘She still looks incredible, but there’s very likely been some carefully placed filler going on, a possible eyebrow lift and upper blepharoplasty to open up the eyes.’

The Hungarian model, 33, who is married to American actor Dylan Sprouse, has never confirmed she’s undergone any kind of cosmetic surgery.

GRACE ELIZABETH

‘Grace Elizabeth has a beautiful, naturally youthful appearance, and her skin looks incredibly healthy and radiant,’ said Anastasia Coles, aesthetic nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic.

‘At her age of 29, the focus is generally more on maintaining skin quality than correcting significant signs of ageing. 

‘Treatments such as microneedling, skin boosters and gentle chemical peels can help maintain smooth texture and hydration, while subtle Botox may be considered for early expression lines. 

‘She’s also retained her natural facial fullness, which contributes to that youthful look. With someone like Grace, the key is not to do too much too soon, particularly when her natural features are already so beautifully balanced.’

Grace Elizabeth credits her looks to skincare and naturally ageing, rather than plastic surgery. 

ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO 

‘Alessandra Ambrosio is one of the original Victoria’s Secret icons, and she looks remarkably youthful more than two decades later,’ said aesthetic nurse Anastasia.

‘Her skin appears incredibly smooth, particularly around the forehead and eyes, and it’s possible that subtle Botox and collagen-stimulating treatments have helped maintain that appearance. 

‘She’s also spoken about Pilates, yoga and looking after her diet, which likely contributes to her beautifully toned figure. 

‘Treatments such as skin boosters or laser rejuvenation could help maintain skin quality, but what makes Alessandra so striking is that she’s retained those recognisable features that made her famous. 

‘She looks like a beautifully maintained version of herself rather than someone who’s tried to completely change her appearance.’

Alessandra, who made her Victoria’s Secret show debut in 2000, has in the past told of how she is ‘freaked out’ by cosmetic surgery after a botched ear pinning procedure left her in severe pain at the age of 11. 

In December 2013, she revealed to Net-A-Porter’s The Edit that she went under the knife because she didn’t like the way her ears ‘stuck out’. 

However, the doctor who she found in her hometown in Erechim, Brazil, had only carried out the surgery once before and the second attempt did not go as planned.

‘I was a guinea pig. The first few nights, it felt like someone had cut off my ears,’ she recalled.

GIGI HADID 

‘Gigi Hadid looks absolutely stunning, and she’s maintained those beautiful, naturally full cheeks and soft facial features that have always made her so recognisable,’ said Anastasia, when comparing the model’s 2015 catwalk look to her 2026 outing.

‘Although she’s previously denied having filler, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had some subtle Botox over the years to keep fine lines at bay. 

‘Carefully placed filler is another treatment that can help maintain facial volume, although there’s no way to tell from photographs whether she’s had it. 

‘Her skin looks incredibly smooth and radiant, and she still has that youthful, natural beauty without looking dramatically different from her earlier modelling days.’

In 2021, Gigi fired back at rumors that she has had plastic surgery, insisting that any changes to her appearance over the last few years are the result of advanced makeup skills – not filler or cosmetic procedures. 

She addressed the speculation in a Vogue Beauty Secrets clip, saying that she has ‘never’ undergone any cosmetic procedures to change her appearance.

‘People pull up pictures [of me in high school] and they’re like, “Oh, Gigi’s nose looks different in these pictures than now.” Or they’ll talk about something with my face and be like, “It’s changed on Gigi.”

‘…That’s the power of makeup. I’ve never done anything to my face, but the way that I’ve learned to contour in certain places, to put bronzer in some places and leave it out in other places, that’s something that you have to learn. I [used to] just put it everywhere. And then [your face] is just all one shape!’

A suspected hit-and-run driver who allegedly struck a uniformed NYPD officer responding to a disorderly weekend gathering in the Bronx was arrested early Monday, authorities said.

Eduardo Paulino, 31, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and the NYPD. He faces an attempted murder charge involving a police officer in connection with the Saturday night incident, law enforcement sources said.

Police and sources said officers were called to Garrison Avenue and Whittier Street in the South Bronx after a 911 report of a large crowd and loud music. Paulino, who was arrested last month in connection with an assault, allegedly tried to flee when officers arrived.

He allegedly got behind the wheel of a white Honda Pilot and sped away, striking a uniformed officer as he drove off, according to police.

The injured officer was taken to Lincoln Medical Center and was listed in stable condition, police said.

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In addition to attempted murder of a police officer, Paulino was charged with assault, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and disorderly conduct, the sources said.

“There is nowhere to hide in New York for individuals who choose violence against law enforcement,” U.S. Marshal Ricky J. Patel said. “We promised a swift and decisive capture, and through the combined, relentless efforts of the U.S. Marshals and our partners, we delivered.”

“If you assault those who wear the shield to protect this city, the full weight of federal and local law enforcement will find you,” Patel added.