TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The family of an 85-year-old woman who was snatched and killed by a gator while walking her dog is now suing the retirement community she was living in, according to NBC affiliate WPTV.
On Feb. 20, Gloria Serge was taking her dog for a walk near the retention pond behind her home in the Spanish Lakes Fairways community when an alligator over 10 feet long grabbed her foot and dragged her into the water, where she drowned.
“In fact, the neighborhood named this particular alligator Henry, and they named it Henry because the alligator was seen so often on the shores of this retention pond,” an attorney representing the family said.
The law firm Lesser Lesser Landy & Smith PLLC filed the lawsuit Thursday morning on behalf of the family claiming the retirement community knew of the alligators and failed to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to remove the gator and that they are to blame for her death.
“There were no signs posted around the lake warning residents of the presence of an alligator, and the property managers encouraged people to sit near the lake by placing a bench along the shoreline,” the firm’s Managing Partner said. “This flies in the face of common sense and warnings from wildlife experts.”
The attorney said residents and staff in the community regularly fed the gator, including “chicken and food from their lunch” and that there were no warning signs of alligators near the pond or in the weekly newsletters they send to residents.
The attorney also claimed that Serge was “forced” to walk her dog near the pond after recovering a violation and eviction warning for breaking a rule the community has against walking pets in the streets.
“Spanish Lakes made her be there,” the attorney added.
The attorney said the community knew about the presence of the dangerous alligators and “encouraged activity at the retention pond.”
“No child should have to bury their mom under such horrible circumstances,” Serge’s son said. “This was a tragedy that was 100% preventable, so I stand here today on behalf of my mom to share her story in the hope that this will never happen again.”
Her son also said Serge could not swim and died in the most “violent and terrifying way.”
Following Serge’s death, the Spanish Lakes community contacted the SNAP program through the FWC, which issued permits and removed multiple alligators larger than four feet long, according to the law firm.
