ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — A St. Lucie County woman told WPTV she did what she could to try to help a neighbor who was killed by an alligator Monday.
WPTV spoke with Carol Thomas at the Spanish Lakes Fairways community Tuesday afternoon. She described the harrowing moments leading up to the tragedy.
"Middle bedroom window was open," Thomas said. "I wanted some nice, fresh air."
At about noon Monday, Thomas heard a noise outside coming from her open window.
"I'm trying to remember what I heard. Maybe I heard, Help.' I don't recall," she said.
Thomas said she went outside and was stunned when she saw her 85-year-old neighbor, Gloria Serge, caught by an alligator.
"The gator had come up out of the water and had her leg," she said.
Thomas quickly called 911. She said she turned her attention back to the water, and didn’t see her neighbor.
"Then I saw her surface about 5 feet out there and, you know, she came up, and she brushed her hair back and was trying to get air," she said. "And I asked her to swim toward the boat, swim toward the boat to get at her or give her something and she said, 'I can't. The alligator has me.'"
RELATED: Tips to protect yourself, pets from alligator attacks
Thomas ran to get a shepherd's hook and moved closer to the embankment to desperately try to help her neighbor.
"Have her grab it or maybe if she couldn't, I could at least hook her or at least hit the alligator with, if it surfaces," she recalled. "But when I get back, she wasn't anywhere."
Thomas said Serge was a wonderful neighbor who was always out walking her dog.
"Very nice lady, lots of friends in here," she said.
Now neighbors are calling Thomas and stopping by to check on her, which she appreciates.
This tragedy has also reinforced her belief in keeping her two cats clear of the water and any alligators.
Serge's dog was not injured and was being cared for by a neighbor.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said if anyone needs an alligator removed and it's at least 4 feet long, call 800-FWC-GATOR.
