There are few things that feel more terrifying than the thought of being attacked by an alligator. The scaly creatures aren’t known for being warm and cuddly; I’d bet that most people are beyond scared of them. It’s not like they have a reputation as anything but cold-blooded killers. That’s for good reason, even if the killings are part of their predator instincts. Last spring, Cynthia Diekema was boating with her husband in Lake Kissimmee, Florida. Sadly, she lost her life after their canoe hit an alligator in shallow water. Now, details have been released about her horrific last moments alive.
Just after 4 p.m. May 6, 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to a report of an incident involving an alligator, the agency shared in a news release. Details were still emerging, but they identified Diekema as the victim, explaining she was found dead.
“The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time,” the release read.
About a month after the attack, WESH obtained a report from the commission that shed more light onto what happened. According to the report, a 61-year-old woman and her husband “unknowingly approached an approximately 11-foot alligator submerged in approximately 2.5 feet of water.”
At the time, the incident remained under investigation. Now, nearly eight months after the incident that claimed Cynthia Diekema’s life, People obtained an incident summary report from the commission. The new details highlight just how awful the entire ordeal was.
Her husband, David Diekema, gave a sworn statement to authorities about what they encountered that fateful day. According to him, the couple were paddling an 11-foot plastic canoe that day.
As they got into the water of Tiger Creek, the couple noticed there were a lot of alligators. In fact, Cynthia Diekema commented that they were “about to go right over top of one” right before the incident happened.
Their canoe did in fact go over an alligator, who began to thrash, according to the report. The thrashing caused their canoe to capsize, sending the couple into the shallow water.
When David Diekema stood up, he noticed his wife’s torso was in the mouth of the alligator, per the statement. He told authorities he “attempted to free her from the alligator’s mouth for several minutes” but couldn’t do so.
Despite having part of her body in the mouth of an alligator, Cynthia Diekema was alert, her husband said, but she couldn’t speak and had a “puzzled look on her face.” The alligator “momentarily released” her after her husband was knocked down, but it quickly bit down on her shoulder.
After getting back on his feet, David Diekema continued to try and save his wife from the alligator’s death grip. The animal, however, “conducted a death roll and immediately swam away with Mrs. Diekema in its mouth,” the statement noted.
About 20 minutes into their search, commission officers found the body of Cynthia Diekema and declared her dead at the scene. The alligator was found and euthanized around 7:30 p.m. that same day.
An autopsy was performed, and her preliminary cause of death was “multiple blunt force injuries from an alligator.” The woman had multiple injuries, including an arm amputated below the shoulder.
Cynthia Diekema “radiated her inner and outer beauty in all she did and had unconditional love for everyone,” her obituary read. “She cherished her family and every moment and adventure they spent together.”
