Woman, 85, dragged to death by 11ft alligator as she walked her dog near pond

An 85-year-old woman has died after she was killed by an alligator while walking her dog near a pond.

The elderly victim, from Florida, US, was grabbed by the alligator near a retirement home in Spanish Lakes Fairways, northwest St Lucie County, which is 70 miles north of Palm Beach, Florida, US, on Monday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses claim they saw the woman, who has not been identified, emerge from the water after the reptile dragged the 85-year-old under.

They said the woman was walking her dog when the alligator tried to grab her pet.

But when she attempted to get the dog away from the reptile she was fatally bitten by the animal.

The woman's dog survived the attack despite nearly being killed by the gator.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement: "The victim has been recovered and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper has captured the alligator involved in the incident."

The alligator was hooked and trapped by at least six people following the attack (WPTV)

The alligator was tackled to the ground by six people before being loaded into the boot of a car.

The attack, which happened near a retirement home, was rare according to neighbours.

They said the sight of alligators was not uncommon but they had never seen an attack before.

Authorities closed off several roads in the area as police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigated the attack.

The woman was out walking the dog when the attack happened (WPTV)

Sheriff Ken Mascara said: "We arrived on scene within minutes and recovered her body, kept surveillance on the alligator with our helicopter and personnel around the lake, and assisted the FWC trapper with identifying the alligator and dragging it out of water.

"Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes residents who knew victim and witnessed the attack."

Police launched a helicopter to try and find the animal as the commission searched for the alligator.

The incident happened at Spanish Lakes Fairways, a retirement home (WPTV)

The alligator was found and dragged out of the pond around 2:30pm.

St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Tonya Woodworth said police were first to arrive and assisted wildlife authorities who are now leading an investigation into the death.

According to the FWC, fatal alligator attacks are normally rare.

In the last ten years, Florida has seen just eight unprovoked alligator attacks which have needed medical treatment.