A Louisiana man, believed to have been killed in an alligator attack during the floodwaters from Hurricane Ida, had previously survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, authorities reported.

The 71-year-old man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was walking in floodwaters around noon on Monday when a large alligator attacked him outside his home in Slidell, a city near Lake Pontchartrain, across from New Orleans. His wife told authorities that she heard a commotion, went outside, and witnessed the attack. She immediately rushed to her husband’s aid. According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the couple had endured significant hardships before, including surviving two of the region's most catastrophic hurricanes. "They are Katrina survivors," said Lance Vitter, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office. The couple had relocated to the area after Katrina and had also survived Hurricane Ida.

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, bringing 150 mph winds as a Category 4 storm, precisely 16 years after Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina caused widespread devastation, breaching the levee system in New Orleans and flooding 80% of the city, leading to nearly 1,800 deaths.

On Tuesday, authorities were unable to find the man's remains despite ongoing search efforts. Search teams, using boats and high-water vehicles, combed the area. "All accounts at this point suggest a tragic outcome that his wife had to witness," Vitter remarked. Searchers were concerned about rising floodwaters continuing into Wednesday and Thursday. If the water level rises further, Vitter suggested, the body might surface.

The man’s wife told deputies she initially pulled him from the floodwaters after the attack and went inside to gather first-aid supplies. Slidell fire spokesperson Jason Gaubert later confirmed that the man had lost an arm. Realizing the severity of his injuries, she took a boat to higher ground about a mile away to seek help. However, when she returned, her husband was no longer on the steps where she had left him.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith cautioned the public to be careful when walking in floodwaters, as wildlife, including alligators, may have been displaced and could be closer to residential areas.