They were wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon during an outdoor movie screening when the alligator grabbed the child.
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Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska’s deceased body was found completely intact by Orange County Sheriff’s dive team on Wednesday.
Alligators pop up constantly in man-made canals, golf course lakes and retention ponds that dot the state.
Wildlife officials had earlier caught and killed five alligators from the lagoon to examine them for traces of the boy but found no evidence they were involved. A company representative said it would “thoroughly review the situation for the future”.
According to Demings, the family would like to thank officers for their search efforts and everything that they did during the tragedy.
There are “No Swimming” signs at the lagoon, and no one but the child was in the water at the time of the attack, Demings said.
The remains were turned over to the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office. His father jumped in to try to save him but was unsuccessful. (He) was not successful in doing so. Authorities had earlier said the boy’s mother also tried to rescue him. Neither could a lifeguard who was nearby, officials said.
“The father has some sort of minor lacerations to his arm, so he was able to get over there fairly quickly”, Williamson said.
“It was a tough message to deliver to them”, the sheriff said. “Disney will look at all of their protocols, and their signage, I’m sure, going forward”, Demings demurred. “Disney has a wildlife management system that is in place. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer our deepest sympathies”.
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.
Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, said the agency works closely with the theme park to remove any “nuisance alligators”, or gators that are at least four feet in length and could pose a threat to people, pets or property.
However, it is very rare for an alligator to attack a human, Wiley said.
He says the boy’s family “will no question lose a 2-year-old child”. The alligator is between 4 and 7 feet long, Demings said.
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An alligator trapper is on the scene, according to Demings, who added that there are 50 law enforcement personnel and two marine units taking part in the search.
