Florida Woman Grabbed and Killed by Alligator While Canoeing with Husband Identified

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Cynthia Diekema, 61, of Davenport, Florida, tragically lost her life after a canoeing incident involving an alligator on Lake Kissimmee. The event occurred around 4 p.m. near the mouth of Tiger Creek, a known alligator habitat with the second-highest population of the species in the state, estimated at over 16,000 according to a 2024 census by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Diekema and her husband were navigating the lake in a 14-foot canoe when their vessel drifted over an alligator submerged in approximately 2.5 feet of water. The impact startled the animal, which thrashed in response and overturned the canoe. Diekema, who was seated at the bow, was thrown into the water and landed on top of the agitated alligator. She was bitten during the chaos. Despite her husband's attempt to intervene, he was unable to save her.

FWC officials later confirmed that the encounter was defensive, not predatory. The situation escalated when the canoe struck the hidden reptile, provoking a violent reaction. Diekema’s body was later located by a Polk County Sheriff's Office helicopter and recovered from the water by FWC officers. Tragically, her husband reported to authorities that he had last seen her in the alligator’s jaws before she disappeared beneath the surface.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call from the husband at 3:59 p.m., and state wildlife officials requested immediate backup and medical assistance by 4:05 p.m. Aerial surveillance and drone support were deployed, and at 5:04 p.m., her body was spotted in the grasp of the alligator before being retrieved minutes later.

Following the incident, FWC officials contracted a licensed trapper who captured two large alligators in the vicinity. One of the reptiles, measuring 11 feet, 4 inches in length, matched the description of the one involved in the attack. Another alligator, between 10 and 11 feet, was also removed and euthanized. Wildlife officers continued monitoring the area on May 7 for alligators of concern.

FWC reported that this marks the second alligator-related attack in the same area within two months. In March, a woman was bitten on the elbow along Tiger Creek, which connects Tiger Lake and Lake Kissimmee.

From 1984 to 2024, Florida recorded 487 unprovoked alligator bites on people, including 339 major injuries and 27 fatalities. Despite the numbers, the likelihood of a Florida resident experiencing a serious alligator bite remains at approximately one in 3.1 million.

FWC Executive Director Roger Young emphasized the rarity of such incidents during a May 7 press briefing, stating, “While alligator attacks resulting in fatalities are extremely rare, this tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the powerful wildlife that share our natural spaces. Be cautious of your surroundings.”

The most recent fatal alligator attack before this case occurred in 2023 when a woman was killed while walking her dog near a retention pond in St. Lucie County. That alligator measured 10 feet in length.

To manage dangerous interactions between humans and alligators, FWC operates the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program and issues permits annually for removal of nuisance gators over four feet long. In 2023 alone, up to 15,000 alligators were removed through the program and statewide hunt. For 2025, the agency has increased hunting allotments by 1,000 tags.

FWC reminds the public to follow safety guidelines around alligator habitats:

Maintain a safe distance from alligators.

Keep pets leashed and away from the water’s edge.

Swim only in designated areas during daylight and without pets.

Never feed alligators, as it is illegal and can increase their aggression.