Alligator Attacks Woman Canoeing: Florida Shares Safety Guidelines for Tourists

Florida wildlife authorities have released a new report on a vicious May alligator attack that took the life of a Michigan woman. 

Cynthia Diekema, 61, lost her life while canoeing with her husband near Lake Kissimmee State Park when they inadvertently neared an 11-foot, four-inch alligator hidden beneath the water’s surface, as detailed in a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), KETV informs. 

FWC said that the alligator thrashed underneath the canoe, causing the pair to be thrown into the water. 

According to FWC, Florida is home to approximately 1.3 million alligators. FWC’s 2025 statistics indicate that there have been two “major” alligator bites reported by May, one resulting in death. There have been no “minor” bites reported this year. 

Last year, there were a total of 11 bites, nine considered major and two minor, with no fatalities. In 2023, there were 23 alligator bites, 18 major and five minor, with two fatalities. 

The GatorWise website provides basic instructions, like assuming alligators are present when near the water, not feeding alligators, not disposing of fish or food scraps in the water, not attempting to pick up an alligator, and ensuring pets aren’t wandering shorelines off-leash. 

An alligator populates the Wakodahatchee Wetlands on June 27, 2022, in Delray Beach, Florida. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

“Alligators are native to many wetlands of the southeastern United States, making them critical to the health and balance of these ecosystems,” the site says. “Minimizing conflicts with people while maintaining necessary protections from overharvest is crucial to keeping alligator populations stable within their range.”

“To do that we must Educate people about alligators, while increasing Respect for these animals and their natural behaviors, which will allow for alligators and humans to Coexist.”

Fox News Digital reached out to FWC.