LARGO – A man found dead in a lake in John C. Taylor Park on Tuesday may have been bitten by an alligator, authorities said.
The lake is next to a golf course. Largo police said the man was believed to have waded into the water to retrieve flying discs.
People spotted an alligator near his body and local authorities called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for help, said Officer Forrest Rotchild, a spokesman for the Legislative Conservation Wing.
Investigators initially thought the man had drowned, Rothchild said. But when they responded around 9:30 a.m., they saw there were other possible injuries.
Police have not publicly identified the man, saying officers are still trying to notify his family early Tuesday. Rothchild said the man was 47 years old.
An alligator warning sign is depicted by the lake in John C. Taylor Park in Largo. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]
People should not swim in the water that Largo police called Lake Taylor. Authorities said there were signs prohibiting swimming around the park.
Trapper was trying to catch the alligator on Tuesday, according to the Conservation Commission. But Rothchild said the algae was not caught by noon. Investigators are still trying to determine what role, if any, the animal played in the man’s death.
Charlie Goodpascher, 34, owner of PureLine Disc Golf in Pinellas Park and a professional disc golfer, said Taylor Park is beautiful in part because of the wildlife.
“When people come to town, it’s one of the courses I take people to see to attract big alligators,” he said. “This is something I warn people about when they come to town, just because we locals know there are a lot of alligators there.”
Goodpasture said he thought he knew the man who died, and the man was probably looking for CDs for resale. A high-end drive can cost around $ 20 to $ 30 new, according to Goodpasture.
Ken Hostnik, 56, said he had played disc golf at Taylor Park for many years. He was there on Tuesday, talking to other players and sharing tips on throwing a discus.
Hostnik said he did not know the dead man, but knew of people trying to collect lost discs.
“These are people who are unlucky,” he said. “Sometimes they dive into the lakes and take out 40 discs. You can sell them for five dollars a piece, or you can sell them for $ 10 a piece, depending on the quality.
Read inspiring stories about ordinary life
Subscribe to our free newsletter How They Lived
Every Tuesday, you will remember the Tampa Bay residents we lost, including heartfelt and amusing details of their lives.
You are all registered!
Want more of our free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s start.
Explore all your options
Another man pulling out discs was bitten in the face by an alligator in Lake Taylor in 2020. At the time, a U.S. wildlife spokesman said there had been no other reported alligator attacks in the park for at least 10 years.
A state alligator trapper was walking by the lake in John C. Taylor Park, where a 47-year-old man was found dead in the water early Tuesday. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]
Alligators are everywhere in Florida, swimming and sunbathing around lakes, retention lakes, rivers and golf courses. But attacks are rare. As of last November, there have been no confirmed fatal alligator bites in the state since 2019, according to the Conservation Commission.
The park was mostly quiet on Tuesday afternoon as investigators searched for an alligator in a small part of the golf course, which was cordoned off with police tape. Visitors toured and rode bicycles around the lake, which was surrounded by marshy grass. Dragonflies buzzed in the thick afternoon heat.
People should stay away from wild alligators and not feed them, the state said. The alligator mating season continues in May and June.
Anyone who is worried about a particular alligator is encouraged to call the Conservation Committee hotline at 866-392-4286.
Times Staff writer Josh Fialo contributed to this report.
Add Comment