Orlando Police responded to the Walt Disney World Grand Floridian Resort and Spa for a report of an alligator attack. According to the caller, a 2-year-old boy was dragged into a lake by an alligator at the Disney World Seven Seas Lagoon.
According to witnesses, the father rushed to the boy's aid attempting to fend off the seven to eight foot long alligator. He was unsuccessful after receiving injuries to his hand. The victim's mother rushed into the water to help, then alerted a nearby lifeguard who called 9-1-1.
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The Orlando County Sheriffs Office sent a dive team to the Disney Resort to search for the remains. Around 3:30 p.m., the dive team recovered the remains of 2-year-old Lane Graves Wednesday June 15, 2016 nearly 17 hours after the boy was snatched by the alligator.
Sheriff Demings also stated that: "There were eyewitnesses who certainly saw the child taken under the water. We know that happened and it is certainly not survivable at this point for him to have been submerged for that period of time. There are posted signs warning guests against swimming in the lake."
Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger released this statement to the media regarding the alligator attack:
"As a parent and a grandparent, my heart goes out to the Graves family during this time of devastating loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I know everyone at Disney joins me in offering our deepest sympathies."
After the attack, over 50 wildlife specialists including trained alligator trappers were searching the area for any signs of the alligator. According to Orlando County Sheriff Jerry Demings, the attack was not a survivable ordeal. "It was a tough message to deliver." He also told the press that the family asked him to thank everybody who prayed for a safe return of their son.
Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, also made a statement regarding the attack saying that the alligator must have mistaken the boy for a raccoon or a small dog. “People – even small people – are not their typical prey,” concluding that the attack was an accident
Walt Disney World is also launching an investigation into the alligator attack as well. According to officials, it was the first of incident regarding an alligator in the Walt Disney World Resort.
It does not appear the parents will face any criminal charges.
The alligator attack comes out as the City of Orlando is mourning victims of a mass shooting at a popular gay night club and the fatal shooting of The Voice singer Christina Grimmie.
