Man's Body And Alligator Pulled From Florida Canal

FORT MEADE — A man's body and an alligator were removed from a Florida canal early Thursday morning and officials were attempting to determine whether the alligator caused the man's death. The body was found in Polk County off Peeples Road, west of County Road 630.

A 9-1-1 caller reported the body to the Polk County Sheriff's Office around 7:43 a.m. (listen to the call below), according to the agency's Carrie Horstman. The body was found on property belonging to the Mosaic Company, which uses it to mine and process phosphate rock for phosphate fertilizer production.

"At this time, we have no information regarding the cause of death, the man's identity or how long the man has been deceased," said Horstman, adding that the medical examiner was conducting an autopsy of the body and a necropsy of the animal to determine a cause of death.