Police say they have now found the body of 2-year-old Lane Graves from Nebraska, who was grabbed by an alligator in front of his family at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The boy’s father entered the water and tried in vain to recuse him, sustaining minor lacerations to his arm. A lifeguard on duty also was unable to reach the toddler in time.
Reports state that Lane was on the shoreline of the Seven Seas Lagoon by the Disney Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando when he was dragged away on Tuesday, officials said. The Grand Floridian is a luxury resort owned by Disney and is located near Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park.
Reuters news agency confirmed that Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and a Catholic priest had informed the family that the boy’s body had been recovered near where he vanished and it was completely intact. It is believed the boy was drowned by the alligator. Formal identification has not yet taken place.
“It was a tough message to deliver,” Sherriff Demings told a news conference. “Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that we were able to find their son … so that they can come to grips with what has happened.”
Since the attack, five alligators were seized and killed in an attempt to find the boy’s remains.
The family with three children from Elkhorn in Nebraska were relaxing near the shore of the lagoon when the incident happened.
There is a “no swimming” sign on the man-made lagoon but although the boy was on the edge of the water, there was no indication he was swimming. The signs did not specifically warn about alligators, a Disney spokeswoman said, adding that the company would review the situation.
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger issued a statement to express his sympathies “as a parent and a grandparent.”
Disney has operated in the area for 45 years and never had this type of incident.
