NEED TO KNOW
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Cynthia Diekema, 61, was canoeing with her husband last year when they crashed into an alligator in their canoe and both fell into the water, according to a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently obtained by PEOPLE
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Throughout the attack, he said that his wife seemed alert, but unable to speak and had a “puzzled look on her face”
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Her cause of death was listed as “multiple blunt force injuries from an alligator,” according to the report.
New details have emerged about an alligator attack that claimed the life of a 61-year-old woman as her husband fought to save her life.
On May 6, around 4:02 p.m. local time, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to an alligator encounter near the mouth of Tiger Creek in Polk County.
The woman, later identified as Cynthia Diekema, was canoeing with her husband when they encountered the reptile and both fell into the water, the FWC later shared.
The 11-foot, 4-inch alligator then bit Cynthia and pulled her into the water before she was “later found deceased.”
Nearly eight months after the attack, an incident summary report from the FWC, which was obtained by PEOPLE via a public records request, revealed additional information about what happened on that horrifying day.
In a sworn statement to authorities, David Diekema, Cynthia’s husband, said that he and his wife were traveling on an 11-foot plastic canoe that departed earlier that day from Lake Kissimmee State Park.
Once they entered the shallow waters of Tiger Creek, David says that they observed numerous alligators — and right before the attack, his wife commented on how they were “about to go right over top of one,” according to the report.
As the canoe crashed into the animal, which was resting on the bottom of the creek, the startled animal began to thrash, according to the report, which caused the canoe to capsize and sent the couple into the water.
When he was able to stand up, David said he saw Cynthia’s torso in the alligator’s mouth.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
A canoe that was involved in a fatal alligator attack on May 6, 2025, in Florida’s Tiger Creek
According to officials, he said he “attempted to free her from the alligator’s mouth for several minutes,” but was unsuccessful.
Throughout the ordeal, he said that his wife seemed alert, but unable to speak and had a “puzzled look on her face.”
At one point, the alligator whipped its tail, knocking David off of his feet, according to the report. During that time, he also said the alligator “momentarily released” his wife before biting her again on the shoulder.
After regaining his balance, he tried once again to free his wife from the alligator’s mouth, however the alligator then “conducted a death roll and immediately swam away with Mrs. Diekema in its mouth.”
Knowing that time was of the essence, David — who lost his phone during the ordeal — bailed as much water as he could from the canoe and paddled north of Tiger Creek until he reached Lake Kissimmee, per the report. There he was rescued by a good Samaritan in an airboat.
About 20 minutes into their search, the FWC recovered Cynthia’s body and EMS pronounced her dead at the scene. The alligator was captured and euthanized around 7:30 p.m. local time that same day.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
An alligator killed a woman who was canoeing with her husband in Florida on May 6, 2025
A coroner later performed an autopsy and shared their findings with the FWC, detailing numerous injuries, including the amputation of her right arm below the shoulder.
They stated that the preliminary cause of Cynthia’s death was “multiple blunt force injuries from an alligator” and the manner of death was ruled as an “accident,” according to the report.
The day after the incident, investigators returned to the scene to find any other alligators that were involved in the attack and to capture those that are potentially dangerous in the Tiger Creek area. One alligator was dispatched by an officer and moved onto an airboat bound for Kissimmee Park. No other gators were located.
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“The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time,” the department said in a previous statement.
Cynthia was from Paw Paw, Mich., and is survived by her husband David, two children and two grandchildren, per her obituary.
“She radiated her inner and outer beauty in all she did and had unconditional love for everyone,” the obituary read. “She cherished her family and every moment and adventure they spent together.”
Read the original article on People
