In a tragic incident that took place on February 20, 2023, an 85-year-old woman was viciously attacked and killed by an alligator while walking her dog near a retention pond behind her house in Fort Pierce, Florida. Now, her heartbroken family is seeking justice and accountability by filing a lawsuit against the retirement village where the incident occurred.

The family of Gloria Serge has filed a lawsuit against Spanish Lakes Fairways, claiming that the owners were aware of the presence of the alligator in the pond but failed to remove it or provide sufficient warnings to residents. Chilling CCTV footage captured the terrifying moments when the 10-foot-long alligator emerged from the water, attempting to attack Serge's dog before turning its attention towards her.

During a news conference, Bill Serge, the victim's son, announced the lawsuit alongside his attorneys. The legal action alleges negligence on the part of Wynne Building Corporation, the owners of Spanish Lakes Fairways, for failing to take action despite knowledge of the alligator's presence in the pond. The lawyers further argued that the tragedy could have been avoided if the owners had enforced rules against feeding wildlife in the area.

Additionally, the attorneys claimed that Spanish Lakes Fairways' strict rules on walking dogs in the streets forced Gloria Serge to walk her dogs near the lake. Lesser, one of the lawyers, highlighted that Gloria had received a violation and eviction warning for walking her dog in the front yard.

News observations indicated that while signs prohibiting dogs from being walked on the streets were visible, no signs warning residents about alligator presence were observed on Friday.

The alligator responsible for the attack was eventually trapped and killed by a nuisance gator trapper. Fortunately, Serge's dog survived the incident. Following the tragedy, the Spanish Lakes Fairways homeowners association removed three more alligators from the neighborhood, although it remains unclear if they were from the same pond where the fatal attack occurred.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), alligator attacks on humans are considered rare and typically occur when the reptiles feel provoked or are protecting their nests during the mating season. Florida's alligator population is estimated to be around 1.3 million, with the state reporting 453 unprovoked bite incidents, including 26 fatalities, from 1948 to 2022.

Fox News reached out to Wynne Building Corporation for comment but received no immediate response.

As the legal battle begins, the family seeks justice for their loved one and hopes that this incident will prompt stricter regulations and safety measures to prevent future tragedies caused by alligator encounters.