Florida Grandmother Dead Following Alligator Attack; Family Sues Retirement Community for Negligence
The grieving family of an 85-year-old Florida grandmother, tragically killed by an alligator, is filing a lawsuit against the retirement village. They assert that the owners were aware of the dangerous alligator in the pond but neglected to remove it, leading to the fatal incident. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The family of Gloria Serge, an 85-year-old Florida grandmother tragically killed by an alligator near her home, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the retirement community, alleging a failure to protect residents from the 10-foot predator, per the NY Post.

The Florida alligator attack occurred on February 20, as Serge tried to shield her small dog from the alligator's attack behind her Spanish Lakes Fairways home.

Surveillance Footage Reveals Terrifying Attack

Surveillance footage captured the Florida alligator attack, with the reptile advancing towards Serge's dog, eventually emerging from the water and attacking her.

The Florida grandmother was pulled to the ground, with the alligator biting her feet before dragging her into the pond, according to Fox News.

Bill Serge, the victim's son, announced the lawsuit against Wynne Building Corp., the developer and manager of the retirement community, during a news conference with attorneys.

"I received a phone call that every son dreads," Bill Serge expressed. "No child should have to bury their mom under such horrible circumstances. This was a tragedy that was 100% preventable."

The lawsuit, filed by Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, asserts that Wynne Building Corporation was negligent.

It claims the company was aware of the alligator's presence in the pond but failed to take appropriate action, such as removing the animal or posting warning signs.

Residents had reportedly nicknamed the alligator "Henry."

Florida Retirement Community Allegedly Forces Victim to Walk Near Pond

The legal complaint outlines that the Florida grandmother began walking her dog in her backyard after being restricted from using the development-owned dog run, located over a mile away.

The pond where the tragic Florida alligator attack occurred was in her backyard, as stated in the lawsuit.

The complaint alleges that the Florida retirement community compelled Serge to walk her dog near the retention pond, known to harbor dangerous alligators, CNN reports.

The lawsuit contends that the defendant allowed residents and staff to feed wildlife, including the infamous "Henry," fostering an environment where alligators became accustomed to human contact.

The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Problem hotline, available for removing alligators over four feet long, could have been used to address the situation, according to the law firm.

Joshua D. Ferraro, an attorney with Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, emphasized the duty of property owners to identify and address dangerous conditions.

"Unfortunately, the managers at Spanish Lakes Fairways failed to live up to their obligations, and as a direct result, Gloria died a horrible and terrifying death," he said.

While Florida is home to over 1.25 million alligators, attacks are infrequent.

From 1948 to 2021, there were 442 unprovoked bite attacks, resulting in 26 deaths, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Joel Wynne, president of Florida retirement community, Wynne Building Corporation, responded to the lawsuit, expressing understanding of the Florida grandmother's tragedy.

He highlighted the community's 37-year history, with approximately 3,000 residents, and mentioned that this was the first incident of an alligator attacking a resident.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Florida family's lawsuit claims fatal alligator attack was preventable - From NBC News