Disney World closes beaches after alligator attack
Disney Florida has closed all of its beaches ‘in an abundance of caution’ after the death of a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into a lagoon by an alligator at the Grand Floridian Resort.
After a 16-hour search operation, the child’s body was discovered and five alligators found in the waters have been trapped.
Forensic teams will now try to establish if one of the alligators captured was responsible for the attack.
The incident happened on Tuesday night during the popular movie night at the luxury Disney hotel.
The child was wading in shallow water on the beach of the manmade Seven Seas Lagoon when his father heard a splash and saw his son in the mouth of an alligator.
He went into the lake and tried to open the alligator’s jaws but the child was dragged under the water.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said there had been no incident like this in Disney’s 45-year history.
The body of the boy, Lane Graves, was found in murky water not far from where he was taken. His body was intact but with a few puncture wounds.
An autopsy will now be carried out.
The boy’s parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves from Elkhorn, Nebraska. They were on holiday with two other children.
"The Graves family appreciates the support they have received and have asked for privacy as they grieve the loss of their son," the sheriff’s department said on its Twitter page.
There are ‘no swimming’ signs at the lagoon, which is fed by canals making it possible for alligators to enter the lake.
Disney employs full time staff to monitor the lakes for potentially dangerous alligators.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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