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Updated 10.12pm
THE BODY OF a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater has been recovered, ending a ghastly search at one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
Divers found the body of Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy at Seven Seas Lagoon, Sheriff Jerry Demings said. The child’s father tried to save him but couldn’t.
The sheriff said it appeared the gator drowned the child and left the body near the spot where was last seen. An autopsy was planned.
“Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact,” Demings told a news conference.
The boy’s parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their “thoughts and hope-filled prayers.”
Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.
‘No swimming’ signs
A Disney representative, speaking on condition of anonymity because the company had yet to prepare a formal statement, said the company closed the beaches “out of an abundance of caution.”
While “no swimming” signs are posted at the beach where the animal snatched the boy, no signs warn about alligators. The company representative said it would “thoroughly review the situation for the future.”
Walt Disney World drew more than 19 million tourists in 2013, making it the world’s most-visited amusement park, according to the Themed Entertainment Association, an industry group.
Rarity
Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a gator population estimated at 1 million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.
“We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky,” said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.
Kim Aho said their son was “a little freaked out about the gator.”
The child had waded no more than 1 or 2 feet into the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said. The Nebraska family of four was on vacation at a Disney World resort.
The boy’s father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.
Demings said there have been no other alligator attacks on the lake.
Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.
“My question is why are there alligators in there?” said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.
Alligators taken from water
A Disney spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has “worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area.”
Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated that the alligator was 4 feet to 7 feet long.
The beach where the reptile grabbed the child is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park.
The man-made lake stretches over about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. It feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.
More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and marine units equipped with sonar to search the lake’s sandy, mostly flat bottom. Divers were standing by.
Though Florida has grown to the nation’s third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people have been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Those fatalities were among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator.
Eight children, ages 2 to 16, were among the fatalities. Five died while swimming in lakes, rivers and canals. The youngest victims were killed near lakes, including a 2-year-old girl who wandered 700 feet from her fenced backyard and a 3-year-old boy who left a roped-off swimming area in a county park to pick lily pads.
The grim news was only the latest for a city buffeted by tragedy in the past few days.
On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of “The Voice,” was fatally shot as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.
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No swimming signs should be replaced with man eating alligators signs. Paddling is not swimming. Very sad. Poor family.
Surely an alligator eating a man sign would be better than a man eating an alligator sign?
Sorry that’s a bit of a jump to make! If there alligators in the water you put up a sign making it clear to not only not go swimming in the water but also to stay entirely out of the water and away from the waters edge also! Especially in an area inside a family resort! This seems negligent on Disney’s behalf if they knew alligators were present!
The missing hyphen between “man eating alligator” and “man-eating alligator” changes the meaning totally.
Tragic story either way.
Disney should be making sure there are no alligators in their lakes. Especially ones surrounded by accommodation. Alligators deserve a lot of respect an apex predator that has been around for over 60m years has no place on a Disney property unless it is in a properly secured area. It takes more than no swimming signs to secure such an area.
True Emmet but it’s a bit late for that. They aren’t going to abandon Florida and Louisiana to the alligators. Sure you know what happened the native Americans.
Its a man made lake
Ah cmon ta feck. I’m in Waterford all me life. Never in America and even I knew there was alligators in the place. It’s common knowledge for anyone who ever used the Internet that alligators are there. No fault of Disney at all. Parents where muppets and sadly paid the worse price imaginable. Very sad it happened but jaysis.
Seany its never the parents fault ever and your an “insert insult here” if you dare come out with that, it has to be disney’s fault . The interesting thing is that people that gave out about recent claims in this country like the women tripping in the park that got 40k are now screaming for disney to be shot.
I couldn’t and don’t want to imagine the terror and horror the little boy endured. As for his poor dad.. No words. Rip.
For any of you who want to make a joke or a judgmental comment on this story even though you dont know all the facts PAUSE and think about a mum dad an sister who have lost their little man , the grief and anguish they face and the cloud that will always be on their shoulders for the rest of their lives , the christmas and birthday and happy family times into the future that will always be tainted ( I know what i am talking about I lost my little girl around the same age)
If you continue and still make one of those comments its a commentary not on this story but on YOU as a human being and your lack of compassion.I hope you never have to face the gut wrenching desolation and pain of losing a child , the little light of your life turned off which makes your world a darker place till the day you die.
Bob that comment bought tears to my eyes. So sorry for your loss and ongoing pain can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a child. Totally agree judgements are out of place here accidents happen we all make silly mistakes luckily for most of us the consequences aren’t this dire
Bob, such a heartbreaking comment. So sorry for the loss of your little angel
Bob, I am so sorry for your tragic loss. My heart aches for you and this poor family.
Poor family, they will never get over this for the rest of their lives. I could imagine how people would develop a false sense of security in Disney World.
Do not want to imagine the horror of seeing your child being dragged away like that.
RIP to this little boy
Very sad heart breaking news
Call it ‘Alligator Lake’. Put alligator symbols all around.
Monster Island – don’t worry its only a name. Its actually a peninsula.
Every lake in Florida should be called Alligator Lake. They move from lake to lake in darkness and hard to spot.
Has by brain stopped understanding English. The child was dragged under by an alligator and they “Hope for the best”. Wtf is “the best” in this scenario. That the alligator doesn’t get indigestion???? Honestly. Tragic, stupid and so many other things.
What the fcuk was a family of five doing in the lake?? Typical yanks haven’t a clue…
Horrible. Can’t imagine what the parents are going through.
Disney must bear some responsibility here.
Ignorant excuse for a human.
Look. U can put signs up everywhere. Some people still won’t see them. This is an awful thing to happen and please God there is still hope the child is ok. There is always hope. Poor father will be feeling terrible as it is trying to save his child without all the backlash of people saying they should have obeyed the sign. Have none of ye never skipped a rule or “walked on the grass” i know i have. Hope you’re found safe sweet child
That’s what was reported this morning. This is horrific and indescribable for that poor family. Having spent time in Florida it’s known that these animals can be everywhere including storm drains or even pools. I’m sure the poor family weren’t aware of that however.
The child’s body has been recovered, little angel rip
Donald Trump has just announced a ban on all alligators entering the US.
Thankfully, the tragic little boy’s body has been found. What a truly awful experience for the family.
This is terrible sad
64 comments recorded but only 45 retained.
The Journal is getting more and more active in editing out comments.
Micheal, Welcome to the new world media, censorship of freedom of speech.
Yes mine has just been edited now i sad nothing nasty why the journal doing this
Was watching a nature program just the other day & alligators can make themselves blend in with their surroundings & camouflage themselves to look like some driftwood, it would be to late before you knew any better. Poor family ♡x.
I even stay up all night in case they fall out of bed. Do you not?
I hate the way people think they know it all on stories like this it’s awful. All that should be said is that it’s a terrible thing that happened and sorry for the loss of the family. RiP Lane.
Absolutely heart breaking. I can’t wrap my head around it.
Disney spends so much money on advertising but they couldn’t put up one sign that says there might be gators in the water
Jesus christ! , & before the trolls start it wasnt a religious statement it was 1 of shock
5 alligators culled before they found the body more innocent animals dead for human stupidity signs or no signs. And no I don’t care about thumbs down.
I can see a lawsuit.
RIP little angel.
Ah jaysus. RIP
alligators are everywhere in orlando where ever you see a lake there is a alligator, I don’t understand safety comes first so why not fence the lakes
Alligators are unpredictable creatures they can snap any time and that lake should of had fencing all around. most children are vulnerable they love to explore and safety comes first for them. no fence no signs I taught disney land would have more sense. they probably say it never happened before but personality of animals change too so I believe 100% disney at fault here its Family park not Adult park.
Safety always First
Poor child what a horrible way to die shocking sad
@karen poor alligators 5 of them had to die too …. needlessly
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