Body of toddler snatched by gator recovered

ORLANDO — Crews have recovered the body of a 2-year-old boy more than 18 hours after an alligator dragged a boy into the murky waters of a lagoon at the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The boy was attacked by the gator at Seven Seas Lagoon at about 9:16 p.m. Tuesday while he and his family were lounging next to the water.

The child was wading in the lagoon when the alligator struck. His father jumped in to rescue him but couldn't wrench the boy away from the animal, said Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jeff Williamson.

We're working to learn more about the toddler and the recovery operation for a live report on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11.

The father, who was not identified, received minor injuries in the struggle, Williamson said.

“This is a tough situation,” Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

The boy was identified as Lane Graves from Elkhorn, Nebraska.

The sheriff says the boy's body was found in the area immediately surrounding where he was last seen. Divers located the body about six feet deep in the murky water.

"There is no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator," Demings said.

George A. Kalogridis, President, Walt Disney World Resort, released the following statement: "There are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and their unimaginable loss. We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help the family during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer our deepest sympathies."

Five alligators captured, killed in search

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Nick Wiley said a handful of alligators had been pulled from the lagoon so far.

The Sheriff's office says they captured five alligators in the search for the body, but "couldn’t find any evidence that they were involved. “

The alligators had to be euthanized to be examined, he said.

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Disney closes all beaches

Disney closed beaches Wednesday at their resorts "in an abundance of caution."

“Disney is doing everything they can to make the family comfortable during this ordeal,” said Demings.

Florida Fish and Wildlife, Reedy Creek Fire Rescue and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office conducted the search and recovery operation.

“We’re pulling officers from different parts of our region to come and assist us, and we’re putting every effort into locating the child and tracking this alligator,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Chad Weber said during the earlier press conference.

Gator attacks "very rare," sheriff says

Gator attacks are very rare, Wiley said, adding that his office works closely with Disney to remove nuisance alligators when they are sighted.

Wildlife commission statistics show Florida averages about seven serious unprovoked bites a year, and the frequency of these bites is rising. However, the likelihood of someone being seriously injured by an unprovoked alligator in Florida is roughly one in 2.4 million.

Cox Media Group