Florida woman killed by alligator during canoe trip as husband desperately tried to save her
A woman canoeing with her husband has been killed by an alligator after they accidentally rowed over the animal. It then attacked her and is believed to have 'thrashed' around in the water
A woman tragically lost her life after an alligator attacked her while she was canoeing with her husband.
The horror incident happened in Florida near the mouth of Tiger Creek at Lake Kissimmee on Tuesday, May 7 when she and her husband accidentally rowed their boat over the reptile, according to officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The couple's canoe passed over the gator, which then "thrashed" around, causing them to capsize and fall into the water, FWC Major Evan Laskowski informed reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
The 61 year old woman landed on top of the animal and was bitten, Lawkowski revealed, adding that her husband attempted to rescue his wife from the jaws of the beast but was unsuccessful.
In radio transmissions from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, obtained by WKMG, an official can be heard saying: "The gator grabbed her out of the canoe. [Her husband] tried to fight the gator off. We're at the last place he saw her. He left the paddle here, where he last saw her," reports the Mirror US.
The woman's body was eventually spotted by a sheriff's office helicopter, and members of the FWC were able to retrieve her from the water, according to officials.
Later that same night, a contracted nuisance alligator trapper contacted FRW officials, reporting that they had trapped an 11" 4 inch alligator that matched the description of the gator suspected of killing the woman. Authorities captured a substantial alligator, between 10 to 11 feet in size, on Wednesday though it remains unconfirmed if this was the animal behind the recent attack."
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy," expressed FWC executive director Roger Young during the press briefing. "While alligator attacks that result in fatalities are rare, this serves as a somber reminder of the powerful wildlife that share our public spaces. ".
In a chilling repeat incident, another alligator had previously bitten a woman near the same Floridian creek just days earlier. The woman was out kayaking with friends when she was suddenly attacked by an alligator, which bit her elbow. She was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center and her current condition is unknown.
Alligator expert Brandon Fisher told ClickOrlando the alligator may have felt threatened as it is currently breeding season. He added: 'They are apex predators and will defend themselves. If you're out on a kayak, canoe, or boat, you just have to be aware of your surroundings and not approach these animals. It's Florida, we know there are alligators, and it's bound to happen at some point. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and we never want to see this happen for either party.'
Despite the clear danger, alligator encounters leading to harm are surprisingly uncommon in Florida, known for its large alligator population. The FWC releases figures showing an average of only eight unprovoked alligator attacks annually statewide.
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