Union-Endicott Teacher Killed in Alligator Attack

A kindergarten teacher who lived in Broome County died after she was attacked by an alligator at a South Carolina golf resort.

Authorities say 45-year-old Cassandra Cline had been walking her dog near a lagoon at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island around 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Cline was a teacher at Union-Endicott's George F. Johnson Elementary School.

Investigators say a 9-foot alligator lunged for Cline's dog and wound up latching onto the leash. The woman and her border collie both were pulled into the lagoon.

Sam Chappelear of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said Cline apparently was trying to protect her dog when she was attacked.

Chappelear said it was "basically a tug of war with her trying to get the dog back via the leash."

Beaufort County Coroner Edward Allen said a groundskeeper and a neighbor witnessed the attack. They heard Cline calling for help.

Cline's body was recovered from the lagoon. Authorities say her dog was not hurt.

Cline reportedly was spending the summer in South Carolina with her husband.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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