A woman has been killed by an alligator in a lake in central Florida, authorities said.
The attack happened while the woman was rowing a small boat near the mouth of Tiger Creek stream in Lake Kissimmee, south of Orlando, at around 4pm local time (9pm UK time) on Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said.
The woman went into the water and wasn’t seen again until her body was recovered nearby, the commission said in a statement.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies and marine units assisted with the search.
The sheriff’s office has said that the woman was in a kayak, which had an enclosed hull, with another person who wasn’t reported injured.
But a commission spokesperson said the agency believes the woman who was killed was in a canoe which had an open hull.
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Investigators did not release any details about the attack or the alligator. A contracted nuisance alligator trapper has been dispatched to the area.
There are no immediate reports that the animal involved in the attack had been found.
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Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, officials said.
FWC administers a nuisance alligator programme to remove creatures believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.
