A Florida woman died after an alligator attack on Lake Kissimmee turned a canoe trip with her husband into a tragedy.
The incident happened on May 6, 2025, near the mouth of Tiger Creek, where 61-year-old Cynthia Diekema and her husband, Dave Diekema, were canoeing in about 30 inches of water.
According to reports, the couple had just passed an alligator when the animal suddenly thrashed, flipping their canoe and throwing both of them into the lake. Cynthia landed on top of the alligator after falling into the water, and the animal then attacked her and dragged her away. Tragically, only her husband made it out alive.
According to Fox 13, Dave tried to rescue his wife but was unable to stop the attack. PEOPLE reported that he “attempted to free her from the alligator’s mouth for several minutes,” but was unsuccessful. He also said Cynthia was alert but unable to speak during the attack and had a “puzzled look on her face.”
Later, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office used a helicopter to help locate Cynthia’s body, which was eventually recovered from the lake by officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Authorities said her cause of death was “multiple blunt force injuries from an alligator,” and the death was ruled an accident.
Florida woman dies after alligator attack
Investigators said they do not believe the attack was predatory in nature. Even so, the FWC requested that a nuisance alligator trapper respond to the scene, according to the Daily Mail. The program is used to remove alligators considered dangerous to people, pets, or property.
“While alligator attacks resulting in fatalities are extremely rare, this tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the powerful wildlife that share our natural spaces,” FWC Executive Director Roger Young said, according to Little Things.
Two days after the deadly attack, trappers captured an alligator matching the description of the one involved. Officials said the reptile measured 11 feet, 4 inches long. Another gator estimated to be between 10 and 11 feet long was also recovered from the area.
The attack is one of several recent alligator-related incidents in Florida. In response, the FWC has reminded residents and visitors to stay alert around bodies of water and follow basic safety precautions.
The agency advises people to stay alert in areas where alligators may be present, closely supervise children near water, swim only in designated areas and during daylight hours, and fight back if attacked in an attempt to make the reptile release its grip.
