Florida Alligator Attack: Woman Killed in Front of Husband
Alligator Attack in Florida Claims Woman’s Life
KISSIMMEE LAKE, Fla. (AP) — A 61-year-old woman died following an alligator attack while canoeing on Lake Kissimmee, south of Orlando, according to the florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
cynthia Diekema, of Davenport, Florida, was pulled from the canoe by an alligator. Her husband, who was with her at the time, witnessed the attack, officials said.
The incident occurred near the mouth of Tiger Creek on Lake Kissimmee. The couple was paddling in approximately 2.5 feet of water when the alligator struck, according to investigators.
Investigators believe the couple may have inadvertently paddled directly over the alligator, startling it. The startled reptile may have then capsized the canoe, leading to the fatal encounter.Reports indicate the husband attempted to fend off the alligator and protect his wife, but was unsuccessful.
It was not immediately clear if the husband sustained any injuries during the incident.
Wildlife officials captured two alligators, each over 10 feet long, in the vicinity of the attack.Authorities are working to determine if either of the captured alligators was responsible for the attack.
Video: golfer Confronts large Alligator (Source: BILD/Twitter @PaulHodowanic - March 5, 2025)
Alligator bites, while not uncommon in Florida, rarely result in fatalities. According to the FWC, there have been 487 unprovoked bite incidents as 1948. Of those, 339 were classified as major bites, and 27 resulted in death.
The last fatal alligator attack in Florida occurred in February 2023 when an 85-year-old woman was killed while walking her dog near a pond in Fort Pierce. Earlier that year, a 23-year-old man lost his arm in an alligator attack at a pond behind a bar in Port Charlotte.
Alligator encounters tend to increase during the spring mating season when the reptiles are more active. Florida is estimated to have a population of 1.3 million alligators.
Lake Kissimmee, situated within a state park, is known to have one of the highest alligator densities in the United States.