Woman ‘with a glass of wine tried to touch alligator before it dragged her underwater in fatal attack’

A WOMAN “with a glass of wine” allegedly tried to touch an alligator before it dragged her underwater in a fatal attack.

Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack on South Carolina’s Kiawah Island on Friday, according to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.

The attack took place at a pond in a gated community when Covert reportedly tried to touch the dangerous reptile.

Somehow Covert ended up waist-deep in the water after getting out of the alligator’s way.

Before the attack, a witness told police that Covert arrived at her home “with a glass of wine” and reportedly acting unlike herself.

Deputies questioned the witness if whether Covert had been doing drugs or drinking alcohol, but other then the alleged glass of wine, she claimed that was “the only thing she saw.”

According to the report, obtained by CBS affiliate WCSC, the witness was identified as Covert’s friend.

“Covert was about waist deep in the water and she stated in a very calm voice ‘I guess I won’t do this again’ as they tried to pull her from the water,” a witness told deputies, according to WKRN.

After that, the witness said: “The alligator took her under the water and she released the rope.”

The witness’ husband, along with another man, attempted to hit the alligator with shovels.

According to authorities, a police officer fatally shot the alligator prior to Covert’s body being pulled out.

Her body remained in “intact” when she was taken out of the water by firefighters.

However, she did have “severe wounds to her leg.”

 

She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Covert’s death was ruled accidental and her autopsy determined she drowned, according to the Charleston County Coroner.