Disney Alligator Attack: 2 year old believed dead

[DB11]

A father fought in vain to wrestle his two-year-old son from the jaws of an alligator at the Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida, police have said.

A massive search is under way for the missing boy, who was on holiday with his parents and two siblings from Nebraska.

Wildlife officials captured and killed four alligators from the lake overnight but found no trace of the boy, authorities said at a dawn press conference.

“We’ve looked at those alligators but couldn’t find any evidence that they were involved,” said Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“After a long period of time the hope does dim, but we’re keeping hope. Daylight hours will help. We’ll be able to see more, we’ll be able to observe more. The conditions will improve as the sun comes up.”

Authorities said more personnel, including a 10-person diving team from the Orange County sheriff’s office, had joined what was still classified as a “search and rescue” operation, according to sheriff’s spokesman Jeff Williamson.

“We determined that this child was playing at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or so into the water, when this alligator came up and attacked the child,” Williamson said.

“The father did his best, tried to rescue the child, however to no avail. A struggle did ensue and the father has some sort of minor lacerations to his arm, so he was able to get over there fairly quickly.

“You know how a father who witnesses this must have felt. It is tragic, it is heartbreaking, there’s no other way to say it. We’re just going to keep searching and searching and searching.”

Williamson said there were no signs alerting guests to the possibility of the presence of alligators. “The sign says no swimming. There’s no other sign,” he said.

Wiley said the attack was unusual. “It’s not common at all, in fact it’s very rare for people to be attacked by alligators, in Florida or anywhere you find alligators,” he said.

A lifeguard nearby was alerted to the ordeal. Witnesses to the incident have given detailed accounts to authorities.

The incident happened at the Seven Seas Lagoon adjacent to Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel, where the family had been staying as guests since 12 June.

Asked if alligators were known to be in the area, Orange County sheriff Jerry Demings told a Tuesday night press conference: “We will be investigating the entire activities here. We have not had any recent reports or complaints about nuisance alligators in the area or any of that. But the investigation will play itself out.

“Disney, I will tell, is completely cooperating with this investigation. Their priority is on recovering the child and assisting this family tonight.”

The size of the alligator was unclear. Demings said he had heard estimates varying from 4ft to 7ft.

The family was on holiday from Nebraska, and the boy was one of three children. The father was believed to have scratched his hand in his attempt to grab his child from the alligator and was currently being assisted by authorities.

As search helicopters circled overhead, some guests gathered in clusters to discuss what had happened and at least one broke down in tears.

Demings said that at about 9.16pm someone called 911 to report that “a two-year-old child had been attacked by an alligator”.

Emergency services responded and there were at least 50 law enforcement personnel searching the lake, hampered by darkness.

They include marine units on boats, an alligator trapper, search helicopters and a dive team on standby.

“Hopefully we will successfully recover the child before daylight,” Demings said, adding: “We’re not leaving without the child.”

But he admitted: “As a father, as a grandfather, we’re going to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based upon my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us.”

A Disney spokeswoman said: “Everyone here at the Walt Disney World resort is devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family. We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement.”

One guest, who gave his name only as Justin, indicated a couple sitting on a wooden seat whom he believed to be the parents of the missing child. They were in their 30s and dressed in holiday clothes; the woman was wearing a Mickey Mouse T-shirt. The couple were deep in conversation with a manager and police officer.

“It’s terrible,” Justin said. “You can’t even fathom what they’re going through.”

As a burst of fireworks and illuminated spires of Disney’s Magic Kingdom were visible in the distance Justin, 40, a father of four who works in sales, added: “It’s supposed to be the happiest place on earth. I’m here for work and my family wanted to come with me, but tonight I called my wife and said I’m glad you didn’t come, it could have been one of our kids.”

Steve Wade, 43, who works for General Motors, stood near the water to get a better view before Disney staff calmly but firmly ushered him back. “It’s as horrifying as you can think of,” he said.

Another man, who did not wish to be named, said: “I heard the father went in after the child and tried to fight the alligator off but couldn’t do it.

“It’s not cool. They should have signs up along the water. I sat on the beach the other night and smoked a cigar, right where the kid got pulled in.”

Demings said: “We’re doing our best to deal with all of the situations that we have going on here, but our staff is very resilient and tonight they’re very focused on assisting this family.”

Chad Weber, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, extended “thoughts and prayers” to the family.

The commission was running the investigation in parallel with the Orange County sheriff’s office and Weber said the two were “putting every effort into locating the child and trapping this alligator”.

An alligator trapper was already out on the water, he said. The investigation would take into account any previous reports of alligators sighted at the lagoon.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligators are found in all of the state’s 67 counties, living in marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes. Population growth, particularly in waterside areas, has led to “more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict”.

The commission provides advice on how to coexist with alligators.

American crocodiles also are found in the state, primarily in the south.

 

Thoughts go out to the parents, must have been a horrific experience to watch unfold in front of you and be powerless to stop

[AKCJ]

fcucking hell

[bovril]

He'll reappear 15 years later, having been raised by alligators, half man half gater, out to fight crime and injustice.

 

In all seriousness, thoughts go out to the parents obviously. Very gnarly.

[foxile5]

America to ban both 2 years and alligators before it considers gun control.

[SystonFox]

Should've shot all the alligators like they shot the gorilla.

[Strokes]

Bit of a Micky Mouse story.

Seriously though, it sounds awful.

[kingcarr21]

Cant joke about something like this. Just imagine the heartbreak watching it happen. An adult would be pretty powerless against an alligator so the 2 year old had no chance. Devestating news. So sad

[MC Prussian]

Orlando again...

[Len Finsbury]

Should've shot all the alligators like they shot the gorilla.

 

I think they've shot four found in the area. Not one of them showed signs of having been in contact with the boy though.

[FireFox]

 

Wildlife officials captured and killed four alligators from the lake overnight

“We’ve looked at those alligators but couldn’t find any evidence that they were involved,”

Awful.

[Bayfox]

Camera phone video or it didn't happen.

My wife is convinced it was the parents.

Especially now body has been found intact.

I did try explaining maybe humans just taste like shot to gators.

Seriously tho. Can't imagine the hurt that family are going through.

Will be interesting to see if Disney alter the policy on gators as well.

Led to believe they monitor them and if they start to show signs of a lack of fear of humans they remove them from lagoons.

[Stadt]

The position of the colon in the title could completely change this story

[DB11]

Body has been found intact

 

Lake Buena Vista, Florida (CNN) A 2-year-old boy pulled by an alligator into a lagoon near a Walt Disney World hotel has been found dead, authorities said.

An Orange County dive team found Lane Graves' body intact about 1:45 p.m., not far from where he was grabbed Tuesday night, Sheriff Jerry Demings said Wednesday.

His body had only a few puncture wounds, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

"Of course, the autopsy has to confirm that, but there is likely no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator," Demings said.

He said the body was found in 6 feet of murky water 10 to 15 yards from where the boy was attacked.

The fact that the body was found intact makes sense, said Jeff Corwin, host of "Ocean Mysteries" on ABC.

"That gator came in, grabbed that boy, pulled him, the dad startled that gator, the gator let him go and then the boy drowned," he said.

Alligators don't swim that far -- they sink into the murky water and lurk there -- which explains why the father did not see the boy when he jumped into the water to try and save him, Corwin said.

The boy's parents are from Elkhorn, Nebraska, and were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves.

"The Graves family appreciates the support they have received and have asked for privacy as they grieve the loss of their son," the sheriff's department tweeted.

 

Lane Graves

 

Matt Graves is the chief data officer at Omaha Infogroup, a company that provides technology solutions, CNN affiliate KETV reported.

Demings said the Graves were distraught yet relieved that this was not a protracted search.

He said he brought a priest with him when breaking the news to the parents, who are Catholic.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley said the alligator may have already been caught, but that has not yet been confirmed.

"We're going to make certain that we have the alligator that was involved, and that we remove it from the lake," he said.

Forensics teams will try to determine whether one of the alligators already taken from the lake is the one that dragged off the boy. If not, the search for alligators in the lake will continue.

[Fox92]

Alligators and crocodiles are one of my favourite animals but I wouldn't go anywhere near them, or even "paddle" at the edge of water if I knew they were in there. Saying they are a dangerous animal is an understatement. 

 

I also don't understand why there is no form of segregation. I'm under the impression there is nothing separating the water from the beach? 

[Merging Cultures]

This is terrible. 

 

The lake looks idyllic. However, there was a sign. Even if it didn't mention alligators, it said no swimming, plus they were in Florida. Everyone knows Florida is over run with alligators, snakes and other things that can kill you. Even in seemingly carefree places, like Disney. Although you wouldn't expect it. Personally, and maybe I am a bit paranoid (and it isn't hindsight), but I wouldn't let my children paddle in such waters. The family must take a lot of the responsibility for this, but I think the park will have to pay out big time too for neglecting to mention alligators.

[FireFox]

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley said the alligator may have already been caught, but that has not yet been confirmed.

"We're going to make certain that we have the alligator that was involved, and that we remove it from the lake," he said.

Forensics teams will try to determine whether one of the alligators already taken from the lake is the one that dragged off the boy. If not, the search for alligators in the lake will continue.

"Caught", "remove it"... We're already talking about how a little boy died, no need to shy away about it, just say that they're killing them.

I hope they already killed the one and won't kill anymore, but even then I'd guess they'd keep killing more.

[Guest Col city fan]

It's an absolute fookin tragedy. I can't believe people are joking about this! What a way to lose your son...God knows how the parents will ever sleep again.

[Vardinhio]

Awful