The husband saw his wife’s torso in the alligator’s mouth. She was released ‘momentarily’ before the animal attacked again and floated away with him

need to know

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

• During the attack, he said his wife appeared alert, but unable to speak and had a “surprised look on her face”.

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

New details have emerged about an alligator attack that killed a 61-year-old woman as her husband fought to save her life.

On May 6, at 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, identified as Cynthia Dickema, was canoeing with her husband when they encountered the reptile and both fell into the water, FWC later shared.

The 11-foot, 4-inch alligator bit Cynthia and dragged her into the water “before she was later found dead.”

Nearly eight months after the attack, an incident summary report from the FWC, obtained by PEOPLE through a public records request, revealed more information about what happened that fateful day.

Cynthia’s husband, David Diekema, said in a sworn statement to authorities that he and his wife were traveling in an 11-foot plastic canoe that had left Lake Kissimmee State Park earlier that day.

Once they entered the shallow waters of Tiger Creek, David says they observed several alligators — and before the attack, his wife remarked how they were “going right over one.”

According to reports, after the canoe hit the animal resting on the bottom of the river, the startled animal started lashing out, causing the boat to overturn and send the couple into the water.

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

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

Throughout the exam, he said his wife appeared alert, but unable to speak and had a “surprised look on her face.”

At one point, the alligator lashed its tail, knocking David off his feet, according to reports. At the time, he also said the alligator “momentarily released” his wife before biting her again on the shoulder.

After regaining his balance, he once again tried to free his wife from the alligator’s mouth, but the alligator then “conducted a death roll and immediately swam away with Mrs. Dikema in its mouth.”

Knowing that time was of the essence, David – who lost his phone during the ordeal – collected as much water as he could from the canoe and paddled north up Tiger Creek until he reached Lake Kissimmee. There he was rescued in an airboat by a good Samaritan.

About 20 minutes into their search, FWC found Cynthia’s body and EMS pronounced her dead at the scene. Magar was caught and executed at 7:30 pm local time on the same day.

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.

They ruled Cynthia’s initial cause of death as “multiple blunt force injuries from an alligator” and the manner of death as “accidental,” according to the report.

The day after the incident, investigators returned to the scene to find other alligators involved in the attack and capture those potentially dangerous to the Tiger Creek area. An alligator was dispatched by an officer and transferred to an airboat bound for Kissimmee Park. The other gators did not exist.

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“The FWC extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims at this difficult time,” the department said in an earlier statement.

Cynthia was from Paw Paw, Mich. and is preceded in death by her husband David, two children and two grandchildren.

“She radiated her inner and outer beauty to everyone and loved everyone unconditionally,” the obituary said. “She cherished her family and every moment and adventure they had together.”

Read the original article on People