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ALEX LEARYA New Port Richey man's prosthetic leg flew off while he rode a roller coaster. Universal Orlando will replace it.
They searched for hours, in trees, behind shrubs and flowers. When night fell, they combed through mud with shovels and metal detectors.
When it was over, workers at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure amassed an impressive pile of loot. Cell phones, scores of them, and lots of hats.
What they didn't find was Hawley "Todd" Webb's leg.
"We have searched every possible inch of ground that there is," said Universal spokeswoman Susan Lomax.
The leg might never be found.
On Monday, after a weekend-long blitz that included draining two lakes, Universal said it had called off the search.
"Certainly if something were brought to our attention, or it were to surface, we will contact Mr. Webb. But at this point we have exhausted our search."
"It was a good leg, the best I ever had," said Webb, 34, of New Port Richey. "It's out there somewhere."
Webb's misfortune began Aug. 7, when he and his wife, Cynthia, traveled to Universal for their first vacation in five years. While whipping through a loop on the Dueling Dragons roller coaster, Webb felt his prosthetic right leg give.
"Oh my God, oh my God," he screamed to his wife.
Webb, whose right leg was amputated because of complications resulting from a motorcycle crash, worried the prosthesis hit someone after it sailed off.
There were other concerns. The leg cost more than $13,000 and was one-of-a-kind, given the Miami Dolphins logo across the front.
After some initial confusion, Universal launched a search around the roller coaster. Divers plunged into the lakes beneath the attraction. When that failed, Universal drained the lakes and searched again.
Universal gave Webb a temporary prosthesis and is paying for a permanent replacement. The Webbs have also been offered a free weekend at the attraction, hotel stay included.
Webb is not sure how the leg came off, but he was confident it could withstand the force of the roller coaster. After all, he said, he had ridden others like it countless times before.
On Monday, he urged a reporter to yank on the temporary leg. "Go ahead," he said. The leg stayed put.
But just in case, Webb will not board another roller coaster like Dueling Dragons.
Not while wearing with his prosthetic leg, anyway.