Overview

• The attack occurred on May 6, 2025, near the mouth of Tiger Creek into Lake Kissimmee, a region known for its high alligator population.
• Cynthia Diekema and her husband were canoeing in shallow water when their canoe drifted over a large alligator, startling it and causing it to thrash and tip the boat.
• Diekema was thrown into the water and bitten; her husband attempted to save her but was unsuccessful. Her body was recovered later that afternoon.
• Two alligators, including one over 11 feet long, were captured by a nuisance trapper, with officials investigating whether they were involved in the incident.
• Fatal alligator attacks are extremely rare in Florida, with only 27 recorded deaths since 1948, despite frequent human-alligator interactions in the state.