LAKE KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Officials said Wednesday that a 61-year-old woman was killed Tuesday after an alligator attack on Lake Kissimmee.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) responded to the attack Tuesday afternoon.

A husband and wife were canoeing in about 2.5 feet of water when they went over the alligator. Their canoe tipped over and the Davenport resident, identified as Cynthia Diekema, fell on top of the gator. An 11-foot, 4-inch alligator bit her and pulled her underwater.

Her husband tried to help his wife, stated the FWC official during a Wednesday morning press conference.

Diekema's body was recovered from the water after the attack.

Officials with the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported they received a call at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday to assist FWC in their response.

Polk County used helicopters, officers and a marine unit to respond to the call. 

A contracted nuisance alligator trapper also arrived, removed the alligator from the water, and "dispatched it." FWC officers and the trapper will remain in the area to ensure public safety.

Officials with the FWC report that fatal interactions with alligators are rare in Florida. A Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program is in place to capture or remove alligators that are believed to be a threat to people living nearby. 

People with concerns about an alligator should call 866-FWC-GATOR to report the issue. 

FWC issued the following statement in reference to the incident: 

The FWC works to keep Floridians and visitors informed and recommends the following precautionary measures near alligators, including in or near the water, to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators:
 

• Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator. If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and we will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. 
   
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey. 
  
  
• Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
   
• Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.