January 1, 85-Year-Old Woman Loses Life During Run-In with Alligator [Video]

A Florida woman was killed after an alligator pulled her into a nearby retention pond while she was walking her dog, officials said.

Gloria Serge, 85, was taking her small dog for a walk along the pond in her community in Ft. Pierce when an alligator attempted to snatch her pet, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“Ms. Serge was knocked over and the alligator pulled her into the water by her foot,” per the commission’s incident report.

“Serge was pulled into deeper water and died as a result of the incident,” the report read. The commission’s report noted that the 10-foot alligator was eventually caught and euthanized.

A commission spokesperson told CNN that the dog survived.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the victim,” the commission said in a statement.

Serge’s body was recovered from the retention pond. The alligator, which reportedly weighed between 600 and 700 pounds, was captured by a nuisance alligator trapper.

The commission noted that such instances involving alligators are rare in Florida.

“The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property,” the commission said.

According to Inside Edition, who obtained footage of the moments before the horrifying attack, authorities are warning residents against walking their pets near Florida’s alligator-invested waterways.

Sources: CNN | Fox News | Inside Edition