GATOR BAIT!
Frisbee peddler ripped apart in Florida lake
FRISBEE fanatic Sean Thomas McGuinness, who made an honest living retrieving flying discs from a Florida lake, was gobbled up by a gator while trying to do his job!
The 47-year-old’s gruesome remains were found partially eaten — missing three of his four limbs — in Largo’s Taylor Lake days after he’d waded into murky water to salvage a disc from a nearby frisbee golf course. McGuinness was ambushed and dragged under by a giant man-eater.
Derek Erskin, who often visited the area, says Sean was aware of the dangers, but still waded chest-deep into the snake- and gator-infested waters to collect frisbees tossed into the drink by players participating in the funky sport where thrown flying discs replace traditional golf balls.
“He was fully aware,” Erskin notes. “He seemed to be pretty comfortable with what he was doing.”
Meanwhile, park rangers also knew about his risky business and tried to stop Sean, who made about $30 a pop peddling salvaged frisbees.
Records reveal reports about him splashing after frisbees were made twice, but by the time rangers finally arrived to chase him off, Sean was gone.
Former roommate Ryan McKinley, 47, says Sean made a living by reselling frisbees: “He didn’t ask for handouts, he worked. He made his living no matter what he had to do and I respected him for that.”
They’d roomed for eight years until January, when Ryan asked him to leave.
Sean was battling health issues, including cancer, which changed his behavior, according to Ryan, who says he was forced to give his roomie the bum’s rush.
Says Ryan, “It still kills me to this day, because I do blame myself a little bit.”
Florida Fish and Wildlife trappers caught and killed two alligators after Sean’s death, but Ryan believes that would have angered his friend.
“He would’ve been upset they’re killing the gators,” Ryan says. “He wouldn’t want that.”