Florida Woman, 84, Fights Off 7-Foot Alligator During Walk with Dog

Del Boppel, a resident of North Fort Myers, Florida, recounted her terrifying encounter with a 7-foot-long alligator from her hospital bed. The 84-year-old woman said she was taking her small dog for a daily walk when the incident occurred.

Del described the alligator’s sudden movement as “like a torpedo.” She said, “I’ve never seen anything move so fast in my life. I didn’t have time to think. … All of a sudden, I had this bad feeling.” Her instinct was right, as the alligator was about to pounce on her.

Neighbor Patty Cuppy told police that her window was open and she “heard someone screaming non-stop.” Del said she was walking her dog at a mobile home park and was near a pond when she saw the alligator’s eyes looking at her. Before she could react, she threw her puppy into the air and the alligator bit her. “It took a big chunk out of me,” she said.

Patty Cuppy, who ran out to help her neighbor when she heard Del screaming, described the scene: “When I got there, the dog was covered in blood and her (Del’s) legs were completely exposed from the knees to the ankles.” Despite her injuries, Del remained calm and collected.

Del fought back against the alligator, kicking it with her left leg and hitting its muzzle, which caused it to let go. She continued to fight, determined to survive. After a few swipes, the alligator ran away, but not before taking chunks of flesh from Del’s legs and fingers.

Despite her ordeal, Del remains optimistic and is in good spirits at the hospital. When asked who she would save first if there were still alligators and children, she smiled and said, “Probably the dog first.”

Del had previously complained to her community about the large alligators in the area, but no action was taken. After the attack, officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tracked down the alligator and removed it.