A man was ravaged and killed by an alligator after wading into a lake to retrieve lost Frisbee

Florida police believe the man was bitten and later died after attempting to retrieve a Frisbee-like disc from an alligator-infested lake

A 47-year-old man was killed by an alligator while trying to retrieve his Frisbee at a local park, police believe.

Largo Police Department (LPD) officials believe the man probably entered the lake at John S. Taylor Park in Largo in search of a Frisbee before he was bitten by the reptile and later died.

John S. Taylor Park features an 18-hole multiple-hole disc golf course that runs alongside the lake, known for its alligators. The shore is littered with signs warning people of the predator and telling them not to swim.

A local disc golfer, Ken Hostnick, said that Tampa Bay Times that while he didn’t know the man who died, he is aware of the people who enter the lake to salvage panes despite the risks.

“These are people who depend on their luck,” he said. “Sometimes they dive into the lakes and pull out 40 discs.

“You can sell them for $5 a piece and you can sell them for $10 a piece, depending on the quality.”

In 2020, a man suffered an alligator bite to his face while retrieving Frisbee discs in the park.

Although alligators roamed much of the state, no confirmed fatal alligator attacks have been recorded in Florida since 2019, according to the Conservation Commission.

Both of the most recent incidents at Taylor Park occurred during alligator mating season, which peaks in May and June. Male alligators can be particularly aggressive during this time.