Husband Saw Wife’s Torso in Alligator’s Mouth. She Was ‘Momentarily’ Released Before Animal Attacked Again and Swam Away with Her

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Cynthia Diekema, 61, was canoeing with her husband last year when their canoe collided with an alligator and they both fell into the water, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report recently obtained by PEOPLE.

• He said his wife appeared alert throughout the attack but was unable to speak and had a “confused look on her face.”

• The cause of death was listed as “multiple blunt force injuries inflicted by an alligator,” according to the report.

New details have emerged about Crocodile attack that claimed the life of a 61-year-old woman while her husband fought to save her life.

On May 6, around 4:02 p.m. local time, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to an alligator encounter near the mouth of Tiger Creek in Polk County.

The woman, later identified as Cynthia Diekema, was canoeing with her husband when they encountered the reptile and they both fell into the water. FWC It was shared later.

The 10-foot, 4-inch alligator then bit Cynthia and pulled her into the water before “she was later found dead.”

Nearly eight months after the attack, FWC’s incident summary report, obtained by PEOPLE through a public records request, revealed additional information about what happened that terrible day.

Cynthia’s husband, David Diekema, said in an affidavit to authorities that he and his wife were traveling in a 10-foot plastic canoe that had departed from Lake Kissimmee State Park earlier that day.

David says they observed multiple alligators when they entered the shallow waters of Tiger Creek, and just before the attack, his wife said they were “right about to walk on top of one,” according to the report.

According to the report, when the canoe hit the animal resting at the bottom of the stream, the startled animal began to struggle, causing the canoe to capsize and the couple to fall into the water.

When he was able to stand up, David said he saw Cynthia’s body in the alligator’s mouth.

He said he “tried to free her from the alligator’s mouth for several minutes” but was unsuccessful, according to authorities.

He said his wife appeared alert throughout the ordeal but was unable to speak and had a “confused look on her face.”

At one point, the alligator snapped its tail, knocking David off his feet, according to the report. He also said that during this time the crocodile “temporarily released” his wife and then bit her on the shoulder again.

After regaining his balance, he once again tried to save his wife from the crocodile’s jaws, but the crocodile then “did a death roll and immediately swam away with Ms. Diekema in its mouth.”

Knowing that time was of the essence and losing his phone during the ordeal, David removed as much water as possible from the canoe and paddled north of Tiger Creek until he reached Lake Kissimmee, according to the report. There he was rescued by a good Samaritan in a speedboat.

Approximately 20 minutes after their search, FWC located Cynthia’s body and EMS pronounced her dead at the scene. The crocodile was captured and euthanized the same day at around 19.30 local time.

A coroner later performed an autopsy and shared his findings with the FWC, detailing multiple injuries, including the amputation of his right arm below the shoulder.

According to the report, Cynthia’s initial cause of death was “multiple blunt force injuries from the alligator” and the manner of death was ruled an “accident.”

The day after the incident, investigators returned to the scene to find other alligators involved in the attack and capture potentially dangerous ones in the Tiger Creek area. An alligator was dispatched by an officer and put on a speedboat bound for Kissimmee Park. No other crocodiles were found.

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“FWC extends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time,” the ministry said in an earlier statement.

Cynthia was from Paw Paw, Michigan, and is survived by her husband, David, two children, and two grandchildren. obituary.

“She reflected her inner and outer beauty in everything she did and had unconditional love for everyone,” her obituary read. “He cherished his family and every moment and adventure they had together.”

Read the original article People