A Florida elderly woman died tragically on Friday after she fell into a pond near her Englewood home and was attacked by two alligators.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said the woman “struggled to stay afloat” after she was seen falling into the water at the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club.
“While in the water, two alligators were observed near the victim and ultimately grabbed her while in the water,” deputies added.
The woman—whose name has not been released—was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation was launched at the golf course following the incident.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Doug Foote, who is the general manager of the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club, said, “This is a tragic situation, and we are deeply saddened that it happened. Our hearts go out to the family members and friends affected by this loss, and we offer our deepest condolences.”
“There is an ongoing investigation into details of what happened, and we are working with authorities to provide any information we have.”
Officials confirmed that the alligators had been removed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
One of the alligators was eight feet, 10 inches long, and the other was seven feet, seven inches long, the agency said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it is still unknown if the specific alligators were the ones involved in the fatal incident, and at this time, there are currently no plans to remove any additional alligators from the area at this time.
