‘Lucky’: Elderly woman attacked by alligator while walking her dog

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LEE COUNTY, Florida (WJW) — An elderly woman was reportedly attacked by an alligator and taken to the hospital after going on a walk with her dog in her Florida neighborhood Thursday evening.

The incident took place around 7 p.m. in the North Fort Myers area, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), as reported by WINK News.

A neighbor told the news outlet he heard screaming and ran to help the 84-year-old woman who had been bitten in multiple places.

“He was a thick gator,” said neighbor Mark Burlingham, who called 911. “She’s lucky she didn’t lose her life.”

While the dog came out unscathed, the alligator, described as at least 7-feet long, was later tracked down and, due to public safety, “humanely euthanized,” according to the FWC.

Reports of alligators biting humans are rare, but officials recommend people keep their distance from the animals. Pets should be kept on leashes and not allowed near water where gators are known to be present.

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