Brittany Clark, 31, was tragically killed after a 13-foot alligator attacked her while she was in the Econlockhatchee River in Florida’s Little Big Econ State Forest on June 28. Clark was in roughly three feet of water with her boyfriend, Chance Allison, 30, and their roommate Jayden Hernandez when the animal suddenly appeared and grabbed her. Allison said the moment went from a peaceful outing to “complete chaos” as he desperately tried to pull the alligator away from Clark. She suffered devastating injuries, including the loss of an arm, and emergency responders transported her toward the hospital, but she died on the way. Allison has now revealed that one of Clark’s final messages was about their German Shepherd, Hokie. While they waited for help, she told him to make sure he continued caring for their dog. “It was one of the last things she said to me,” Allison recalled, adding that he could not remember anything else she said during those final moments.

Allison said he decided to speak publicly because he wanted the circumstances surrounding Clark’s death to be accurately understood, particularly after seeing claims about the couple online that he said were untrue. He specifically denied reports that a hiker had warned them not to enter the water, explaining that the only thing he remembered hearing from someone they encountered was that the person used to bring dogs to the area. Meanwhile, Hernandez paid tribute to Clark, describing her as a “beautiful unforgettable soul” and saying she and her friends had so many plans ahead of them. Clark’s family has also established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of bringing her home. Her sudden death has left those closest to her grieving the loss of a woman they say had much more life ahead of her.