News Summary
A 61-year-old woman named Cynthia Diekema was fatally attacked by an alligator on May 6, 2025, while canoeing on Lake Kissimmee. The incident occurred when her canoe capsized after striking the alligator, resulting in her falling into the water. Despite her husband’s attempts to save her, she was bitten and was ultimately found deceased later that day. Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are currently investigating the matter and captured two alligators in connection with the attack.
Florida – A tragic incident occurred on May 6, 2025, when a 61-year-old woman named Cynthia Diekema was killed by an alligator while canoeing on Lake Kissimmee. The fatal encounter took place around 4 p.m. near the mouth of Tiger Creek, where Diekema was paddling alongside her husband in a 14-foot canoe.
The couple was navigating through approximately 2.5 feet of water when they inadvertently passed over an alligator concealed beneath the surface. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials subsequently indicated that the encounter was likely not predatory. Rather, it appeared to be a defensive reaction by the alligator, which was startled when the canoe struck it.
As the alligator thrashed in response to the collision, the canoe capsized, throwing both Diekema and her husband into the water. Diekema was positioned in the bow of the canoe at that time. In a tragic twist of fate, after the canoe overturned, Diekema found herself atop the alligator, which resulted in her being bitten while her husband attempted to rescue her unsuccessfully.
Emergency assistance was summoned immediately, with a Computer-Aided Dispatch report showing that Diekema’s husband requested help at 3:59 p.m., stating the unfortunate news of his wife’s death. The FWC contacted emergency responders at 4:05 p.m. about the incident that involved potential alligator victims. By 4:35 p.m., the husband reported that he last saw Diekema in the alligator’s mouth before she vanished completely from sight.
Responders quickly deployed air support and drones to support the search efforts. At approximately 5:04 p.m., deputies in a helicopter located Diekema floating in the water. Just a minute later, it was confirmed that the alligator still had her in its mouth. FWC officials were able to recover Diekema’s body shortly after the alligator retreated back underwater.
In the aftermath of the incident, FWC captured two alligators matching the description of the one involved in the attack. One of these measured 11 feet, 4 inches, while the other was estimated to be between 10 and 11 feet long. FWC has launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
According to FWC data, from 1984 to 2024, there have been 487 unprovoked alligator bites involving humans in Florida, leading to 27 fatalities. Alligator attacks resulting in death are classified as extremely rare, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of this tragic episode. The previous fatal alligator incident occurred in 2023, when an 85-year-old woman lost her life while walking her dog along a retention pond.
Lake Kissimmee is notably one of the areas with a high population of alligators, housing over 16,000 of these reptiles. As part of their efforts to manage human-alligator interactions, FWC administers the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), which issues tags to hunters authorized to address alligators posing threats to people, pets, or property. In 2023 alone, FWC recorded the removal of approximately 15,000 alligators from the wild due to hunting and nuisance calls.
Residents and visitors in the vicinity of alligator habitats are urged to exercise caution and remain vigilant regarding their surroundings. FWC advises those who encounter problematic alligators to report the concerns to their Nuisance Alligator Hotline, ensuring community safety in shared spaces with wildlife.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- The New York Times
- Wikipedia: Alligators
- The Ledger
- Google Search: Florida alligators
- The Guardian
- Google Scholar: Alligator Attacks
- CBS News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Alligator
- Fox 13 News
- Google News: Alligator attack Florida
- People
