Alligator shot after killing swimmer

Remains of the dead swimmer were found inside the 3.3m, 180kg alligator. Photo / AP

An alligator that attacked and killed a Texas man, who ignored warnings about the reptile and went for a late night swim in a creek, has been found dead.

The body of Tommie Woodward, 28, was found on Saturday floating a kilometre from the bayou in southeast Texas where he was last seen swimming. The 180kg, 3.3m creature that attacked him was shot dead by a customer at the same marina, it was reported yesterday.

A man identified by local media as "Bear" claimed to have shot the alligator and local game wardens found Woodward's remains inside it.

"He had to go," Bear told the Houston Chronicle. "That's what happens when you kill someone."

Woodward was swimming with a companion at around 2.30am local time when the pair spotted the gator.

Judge Rodney Price told local news channel KFDM that the man had ignored signs about alligators in the water.

He "made the ill-considered decision to go into the water," Price said. "Someone shouted a warning, and he said 'f*** the alligators,' and thereupon jumped into the water and almost immediately yelled for help."

A witness who came running when she heard screams said she saw the huge reptile attack Woodward.

"I asked him please do not go swimming, there's a bigger alligator out here, please stay out of the water," a tearful Michelle Wright told KFDM. "The next thing I know, this girl is screaming: 'An alligator has got him, an alligator has got him'."

Woodward's body later was found with puncture wounds to his upper chest and left arm. Police said an autopsy is pending.