Alligator kills 85-year-old woman walking her dog in Florida 

An elderly Florida woman was killed on Monday after an alligator attacked her while she was walking her dog in her retirement community. 

An 85-year-old woman, identified as Gloria Serge, was walking her pet around the pond of the Spanish Lakes Fairways golf course community in Vero Beach when the 10-foot (3-meter) animal jumped out of the water and tried to attack the woman’s dog. 

However, when she tried to get the dog away from the reptile, the alligator grabbed a hold of her, local news outlets reported. 

A nearby witness, neighbor Carol Thomas, heard the commotion and saw the alligator grabbing Serge by the leg and pulling her into the retention pond. When Serge eventually came up for air, Thomas told her to swim to a nearby paddle boat. 

“She said, ‘I can’t. The gator has me!’” Serge responded, before disappearing into the pond. 

Thomas then called 911 to report the incident. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to the scene. 

"The victim has been recovered and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper has captured the alligator involved in the incident," the FWC said in a statement, adding that six wildlife officials had to wrangle the large animal to get it into the back of a truck. 

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the victim," the FWC said in a statement. "Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida.”

According to the FWC, alligator attacks are uncommon, particularly when they result in death. The FWC recommends staying aware of alligator fighting and to fight back if one happens to become prey to one. 

 "They will often let go and retreat," if the alligator’s prey is not easily overpowered.