A tragic incident has taken the life of a Florida grandmother who was killed by an alligator after falling from a canoe during a quiet day out with her husband.
Cynthia Diekema, from Davenport, was enjoying a paddle on Lake Kissimmee with her partner, Dave Diekema, on Tuesday when the terrifying event unfolded. According to wildlife authorities, the couple’s 14-foot canoe was moving through just two feet of water when they unknowingly passed over a large alligator hidden beneath the surface.
The sudden movement of the animal overturned the canoe, throwing both Cynthia and Dave into the water. Tragically, Cynthia landed directly on the alligator, which then attacked her.
Her husband watched in horror and tried frantically to rescue her, but the alligator’s attack proved fatal. Emergency services were called around 4 pm, and rescuers later found Cynthia’s body in the water. She was declared dead at the scene, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed.
