A 12-year-old girl was injured by a more than 12-foot-long alligator at a lake in North Carolina on Friday, June 13. Other children were also in the water, but are all safe. “She had a few stitches and, other than that, she’s doing great,” authorities said. Officials confirmed that this was the first such incident in the area’s history.

On that day, multiple children were playing in Lake Waccamaw, a large freshwater lake, when one of them suddenly screamed, “Something bit me!” As the children rushed out of the four-foot-deep water, an alligator emerged from the same spot, according to the Lake Waccamaw Police Department. Authorities noted that the injuries were serious but not life-threatening and may have been caused either by a bite or a claw.

Initially, the alligator was believed to be six to seven feet long, but later measurements showed it was actually over 12 feet in length. “It’s a monster,” officials said when describing its size. This marks the first recorded alligator attack in Lake Waccamaw’s history, despite the lake being home to around 570 alligators.

Experts say such attacks are rare, especially during the daytime, and are often linked to alligators that have been fed by humans. Feeding these animals is illegal in most states and can cause them to associate people with food. Authorities advised the public to respect wildlife, keep a safe distance from alligators, and leave the water immediately if one is spotted. READ MORE BELOW