Florida disc golfer bitten by alligator in pond

FoxNews.com ^ | Sept 11, 2018 | Ryan Gaydos

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A man was bitten by an alligator while playing disc golf at a Florida park Monday, authorities said.

Richard Peel, 35, was playing disc golf at Cliff Stephens Park in Clearwater when the incident occurred. He was bitten after trying to retrieve his disc from a pond, Clearwater Fire Rescue officials said.

Witnesses locked arms to pull Peel to safety, Derrick Moody, who lives near the park, told FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

“I guess they ran over and formed a ladder with each other and they were able to pull him out,” Moody told the station.

Peel was taken to the hospital, but his injuries didn’t appear to be life threatening, officials said.

Video on social media shows rescuers tying up the 11-foot alligator and loading it onto a truck.

“The alligator was seen prior to him going into the water, so we always recommend that people stay away from murky waters,” Florida Wildlife Commission spokeswoman Ashley Tyer told FOX 13.

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[stylin19a]

shudda taken the penalty.

[silverleaf]

Never play frisbee with an 11 ft long gator

[Pearls Before Swine]

Be careful of “play it where it lies” near or in an alligator hazard.

[dfwgator]

You can play football against them, as they’re harmless, just ask Kentucky.

[Tax-chick]

Dang, that’s a good-sized reptile!

[Red Badger]

[Starboard]

Going after frisbees and golf balls in Florida ponds is just not worth it. These are cheap items; let ‘em go. The gators are quick when they want to be.

Very unfavorable risk/reward ratio.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

I hope somebody retrieved his disc for him.

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[FreedomPoster]

LOL, I wondered if you’d be here!

Go Cats!

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[rlmorel]

I’m gonna guess that red line was there for a good reason...

[ConjunctionJunction]

That gator looks HUGE!

[woodbutcher1963]

Mind if we play through?

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