25 February 2023 , 13:47
1195
0
Four alligators have been removed from a retirement home pond after an 85-year-old woman was dragged to her death.
Gloria Serge, from Florida, US, was mauled to death by a 10ft alligator at the gated Spanish Lakes Fairways communities' lakes after she tried to recuse her beloved dog Trooper from being attacked.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has since cleared the lake of the alligators with Henry, the reptile who killed Gloria, removed and killed by wildlife officials.
Frightened neighbour Carole Thomas, 76, witnessed the horrendous attack and attempted to save Gloria. She saw the alligator try to kill her dog Trooper, who managed to survive the mauling.
Carole desperately phoned 911 and said: "There's a woman in the lake. The alligator's got her! I think she's gone, oh my God."
Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams
Gloria Serge was walking her dog along the pond when she was killed by an alligator (Land and cruise vacations)Carole tried to find a pole to pull her to land but it was tragically too late.
She added: "There is no way I could have gotten to her sooner. It's horrible for her family. It's just horrible, horrible. And her friends, I spoke to a couple of her friends yesterday who are devastated."
Jay Mandelker, president of Spanish Lakes Fairways, has been trying to appease worried residents and confirmed the alligators have since been removed from the pond.
Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators responding to a deadly alligator attack on an 85-year-old woman who was walking her dog (St. Lucie County Sheriff's Offic)He told TCPalm: "They did so to allay any concerns and to make us realise the precautions we should take with regard to wildlife, alligators in particular.
"If you're walking by a lake, a pond, anywhere in Florida, understand, this is Florida, there could be alligators, so do not walk against the edges of any pond or lake, stay a safe distance away."
Gloria's final moments were caught on camera as she walked her dog near the edge of the pond.
Gloria's family have been left devastated after her tragic death (Facebook)The 85-year-old tried to get her dog away from the alligator but she slips and the reptile grabs her and then fatally kills her.
Her body was later recovered from the lake.
The alligator was tackled to the ground by six people before being loaded into the boot of a car and euthanised.
Authorities closed off several roads in the area as police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigated the attack.
Vets' warning over deadly Alabama rot after beloved Labrador dies from disease
Sheriff Ken Mascara said at the time: "We arrived on scene within minutes and recovered her body, kept surveillance on the alligator with our helicopter and personnel around the lake, and assisted the FWC trapper with identifying the alligator and dragging it out of water.
"Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes residents who knew victim and witnessed the attack."