Heartbreaking 911 call reveals elderly man’s desperate rescue attempt after woman, 80, killed by two alligators
A HEARTBREAKING 911 call has revealed an elderly man's desperate rescue attempt after a woman was killed by two alligators.
The 70-year-old pensioner risked his own life to save the woman who fell into a canal near a golf course in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the victim as 80-year-old Rose Marie Wiegand.
A 911 call seen by shows that the man was playing the 6th hole at Boca Royale Golf and Country Club when he saw Wiegand fall in and tried to pull her out.
He then climbed ashore and called 911 pleading for help and told dispatch: "I just couldn't get to her. I tried."
He told 911 he thought Wiegand had been trimming weeds around the water when the attack occurred and claimed he didn't initially see any alligators.
When advised by dispatch not to head into the water, he told them: "I've already been in the water".
Medical Examiner Dr. Russell Vega told ABC7 Wiegard died as a result of cervical spine dislocations and a bruised spinal cord and her death was ruled an accident.
Witnesses confirmed two alligators were observed swimming towards Wiegard and grabbed her while she was in the water, before she could swim to safety.
Rose was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Hugh Moore, who was Rose's neighbour for 15 years told : “She loved keeping up with the plants in her yard.
“She’s lived here for over 20 years. Even after her husband (Edward) died in 2020, she kept up with her yard.
"She was sad for a while, but her two daughters moved closer and then she was happy again they were with her. She was kind and friendly.”
The Englewood Fire District established the incident occurred near Cayman Isle Boulevard and Golf View Drive at approximately 7:47 p.m on July 15.
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A trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed the alligators from the pond.
One was 8ft10in long, and the other was 7ft7in, it said.