An alligator attack killed an 85-year-old Florida woman on Monday when she was out with her dog, according to authorities.

Gloria Serge was walking her tiny dog near the neighborhood retention pond at Spanish Lakes Fairways, a 55+ community in Fort Pierce, a city located roughly 67 miles north of West Palm Beach, when the incident happened, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated.

The 10-foot Florida alligator came out of the water and attacked Serge's dog, so she tried to fend off the alligator, but it knocked her over and dragged her into the lake with her foot, according to the report.

Witnesses dialed 911, according to a commission spokesperson.

Authorities found Serge, and a "contracted nuisance alligator trapper" reportedly captured and killed the reptile that weighed around 600-700 pounds, NBC News reported.

Robert Lilly, the alligator trapper, told the news station of trapping the alligator: "It was definitely a fight. [We] snagged him on the bottom. He never surfaced. He stayed down the whole time. We were able to get a second hook in him and a hard line in him so we could get him up."

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Florida Alligator Attack Is Rare, According to Authorities

Severe injuries from Florida alligator attacks are rare, according to FWC.

"The organization places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property," said the FWC in their statement to PEOPLE.

There are approximately 1.3 million Florida alligators, and almost 9,500 nuisance alligators were killed in 2021. These alligators were at least 4 feet long and were a danger to humans, domestic animals, and property, according to the FWC website.

The FWC has a program called the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) that proactively manages alligator hazards in developed areas while conserving alligators in places where they naturally reside.

Florida residents experiencing problems with a nuisance alligator are encouraged to contact the FWC at their toll-free number, (866) 392-4286.

Meanwhile, the Florida woman's dog survived the attack.

Surviving an Alligator Attack

Suppose the gator is trying to pull you under the water. In that case, you must assume at this point that you are fighting for your life, said Kimberly Andrews, an expert on gators and snakes with a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Georgia's Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, who runs the Coastal Ecology Lab.

It is recommended to try poking them in the eye, hitting the top part of their skull or the side of the jaw, as those parts are sensitive to alligators just like they are on us, she claimed.

Moreover, the risk in a water attack is greater from drowning than from biting, so get to land if you can. After all, we are better on land compared to them, but they are better in the water, according to Andrews.

However, while you may be on dry land, that does not mean you are out of danger as the alligator also possesses weapons other than a terrifying set of teeth, CNN noted.

Like other alligators, a Florida alligator can whip its tail and skull around, causing injuries to its target.

Someone can pound on the alligator with a pole and divert its attention.

Another person attempting to help should stay away from the water or go after you and the alligator. They can help you most by being on the ground and helping you get to the ground, Andrews said.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Florida woman, 85, killed in alligator attack - From CBS Miami