Lake Wales, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued another report this week on a deadly alligator attack in Polk County last month.

The incident occurred on May 3, 2025, along Tiger Creek near Lake Kissimmee State Park, which had previously been the site of a separate alligator attack in March 2025.

According to the FWC report, Cynthia Diekama of Paw Paw, Michigan, was canoeing with her husband, David Diekama, when they accidentally rowed over the back of an 11-foot alligator in about 2.5 feet of water.

As the canoe passed over the alligator, the reptile thrashed and knocked the two 61-year-olds from their boat.

The FWC reported that Cynthia Diekama was immediately bitten by the alligator. Her husband tried to help her, but he was unable to save her from the alligator.

The 11-foot crocodile then executed a “death roll,” which alligators use to kill their prey, before swimming away with the woman.

“She sustained multiple severe injuries and was later located and recovered by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) officers,” according to the paper. “Emergency medical services pronounced her deceased at 17:33 hours on scene.”

FWC officers and trappers discovered an 11-foot 4-inch male alligator, believed to be the animal responsible for the woman’s death. They “removed” it from the wild.