Witnesses and Disney representatives remind the public that the lagoon where the alligator attack took place is clearly labeled with multiple “No Swimming” signs, and that the lagoon is not intended for recreational swimming.
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Officials have recovered the body of the 2-year-old boy who died after being taken by an alligator Tuesday night at a Disney resort in Orlando.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says Walt Disney World has been providing “amazing” support as they search for the body of a 2-year-old boy who was snatched by an alligator.
Wildlife officials removed at least five alligators from the lagoon during the search, and at least four have been euthanized.
The toddler was dragged away into the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.
A family’s fairytale Disney vacation quickly turned into a nightmare when an alligator attacked.
“As a father, as a grandfather, we’re going to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience we know that we have some challenges ahead of us at this time”, he said.
The boy’s father rushed into the water after the alligator struck and struggled to release his child from the alligator’s grip, Williamson said.
Alligators are not uncommon in the Seven Seas Lagoon, a man-made lake reaching 4.2 metres in depth, Wiley told reporters.
Demings said there were no other recent reports of alligator attacks at the lagoon, and the resort has posted multiple “no swimming” signs in the area.
Disney beaches are closed after a gator attack on a 2-year-old, a park spokesperson said in a statement.
Authorities brought in sonar and additional technology to help with search efforts, he said. At the time of the attack, they were relaxing on the shoreline when the alligator pounced. 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. “We’re not likely now to find a live body”, he said. “He quickly moved towards this situation, tried to grab the child from the gator’s mouth, a short tussle ensued”.
Wiley said the wildlife commission works with the resort to remove “nuisance alligators” – classed as those which have lost their fear of humans – whenever they are reported.
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.
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Officials told WKMG-TV earlier that they were planning to “keep searching and searching and searching until we can’t search anymore”.
