She walks her dog and is killed by a crocodile: her family files a complaint for “wrongful death”.

The facts are as of February 20. That day, Gloria Serge, 85, was walking her dog along a pond in her garden in southeast Florida when she was attacked by an alligator about 3 meters long. He later tried to grab the octogenarian’s pet before attacking her. The reptile grabbed his leg and dragged him to the bottom of the lake. Gloria Serge died as a result of the attack. Her dog survived, the report said CNN.

Although the alligator died instantly, the deceased’s family filed a lawsuit against the managers of Spanish Lakes Fairways, a real estate company that owns and manages the subdivision where the attack occurred.

Victim ‘encouraged’ to walk dog near lake

The octogenarian started walking her dog in her garden after receiving a letter from the property manager saying she was prohibited from walking her pet on the property or in an area reserved for dogs but located more than 1.5 km from her home, according to a press release from the plaintiff’s lawyers. CNN.

In the complaint filed, they have disclosed that the company will have “encouraged” The deceased was walking his dog near the lake where they were “Large dangerous alligators constitute a nuisance as defined by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission”..

And even if subdivision residents had permission to feed the reptile, named Henry, to acclimate it to human contact, the plaintiffs alleged. “Statutory and non-statutory liability” Landowners in Florida “Identify dangerous conditions on property, warn people around the danger and take immediate action to eliminate the danger”.

The first time a resident was killed by a crocodile

Joel Wynn, president of Wynn Building Corporation, which developed the Spanish Lakes fairways, responded by saying: “We certainly understand the tragedy and the feelings of Ms. Serge’s family. However, we developed the Spanish Lakes Fairways 37 years ago. We have approximately 3,000 residents. This is the first time a resident has been attacked by an alligator.”

By adding: “Mrs Serge was a long-time resident and was certainly aware of the presence of alligators and that they were inherently dangerous animals.”President Wynne said.

Florida is estimated to have more than 1.25 million alligators, although their attacks are relatively rare. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission counted 26 of 442 fatal attacks between 1948 and 2021.