LARGO, Fla. — The Pinellas County medical examiner has determined the official cause of death for Sean McGuinness, 47, was drowning because of an alligator attack, according to a recently released autopsy report.

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  •  The Pinellas County medical examiner determined the official cause of death for Sean McGuinness, was drowning because of an alligator attack, according to a recently released autopsy report

  • McGuinness was found dead in Taylor Lake on May 31. According to the report, McGuinness’ body was missing both arms and portions of his left leg

  • There have been two fatal alligator attacks in Florida so far this year

McGuinness was found dead in Taylor Lake on May 31. Largo police believe the transient man was retrieving frisbees from the lake at the time which he could exchange for money.

According to the report, McGuinness’ body was missing both arms and portions of his left leg. A toxicology report showed the Largo man had cocaine in his system.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) authorized trappers to remove two gators from the lake in June, but necropsies proved the animals weren’t involved in the attack. 

Alligator attacks that kill people are rare in Florida. The chances of a resident being seriously injured are about one in 3.1 million, according to the FWC. The commission’s records show there had only been four fatal gator attacks over the past decade before 2022.

There have been two fatal attacks in Florida so far this year. McGuinness was the victim of the first attack in May. The second victim was an 80-year-old woman who fell into a pond near her Englewood home in July and was killed by two alligators.