Body Of 2-Year-Old Boy Found Intact After Being Snatched By Gator At Disney World
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Authorities said Wednesday that the body of a 2-year-old boy was found completely intact Wednesday, after the boy was dragged into the water by an alligator at a Disney resort.
Members of the Orange County, Florida Sheriff's Office dive team used to sonar to help them locate the boy's remains around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, in the area where he had last been seen, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a news conference.
Around 3:30 p.m., the body was removed from the water and turned over to the Orange County Medical Examiner's office, Demings said.
"The child was found – his body was completely intact," Demings said. "So at this time, we will go through the formality of making a formal identification. But there's no reason for us to believe the body is not that of Lane Graves."
The boy's parents, Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, have been notified, Demings said.
As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, Demings said it was not easy to deliver the news to the Graves family, who wanted to thank everyone for their prayers.
"Of course, the family was distraught, though also, I believe, somewhat relieved that we were able to find their son with his body intact – one – and two, that he was located, so that they can come to grips with what has happened," Demings said.
Lane was with his family -- his parents and sister -- on vacation. The family was wading in the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa when the alligator came out of the water and attacked.
"The father then went into the water and tried to wrestle the small child from the grip of the alligator," Demings said earlier in the day. "Obviously, he was not successful in that effort."
Law enforcement said there were "no swimming" signs posted at the lake and Disney announced Wednesday that it is closing all of its beaches out of "an abundance of caution" following the incident.
Meanwhile, crews have pulled and put down five alligators out of the man-made lake where the incident happened, but officials say there is no evidence they were responsible for the attack.
"There is a good chance that we already have the alligator," said Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, "But we will do tests to make sure we have the right one."
Disney has temporarily closed its resort beaches. No swimming signs were posted in the area of the attack, but some are questioning if more precautions, including underwater fencing, should be taken.
But officials said underwater fencing would not solve the problem.
"An alligator can move across the land and under the water, so fencing is just not a feasible option," said Wiley.
Authorities were trying to reassure guests Wednesday that attacks like this are very rare, CBS News' Don Champion reported.
"Disney has operated here now for 45 years, and they've never had this type of thing happen before," Demings said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has brought in experienced alligator trappers to help in the search. The commission also said it would help Disney World to review its alligator response and removal programs.
Demings said the theme parks' wildlife management system works diligently to keep guests safe from dangerous Florida creatures, removing or killing any alligators they find.
As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, Wiley said he considers it likely the alligator mistook the small boy for a dog or raccoon. He also talked about alligators biting humans, which happens in Florida about a dozen times a year.
But alligators causing deaths is a phenomenon so rare that there have been just 23 fatalities since the 1940s.
"These alligators can pop up almost anywhere in Florida," alligator expert Mark McHugh said.
McHugh said there are ways to keep yourself safe in an encounter with an alligator.
He said you should never feed an alligator, don't try to get up close for a photo, and if attacked with no way to flee don't try prying the mouth open because the alligator will likely snap down tighter - instead smack the alligator's snout which may cause a reflex action of letting go.
This was the first known alligator attack at Seven Seas Lagoon, Disney released a statement.
"We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help the family during this difficult time," said the statement from Walt Disney World President George A. Kalogridis.
Meanwhile, the timing of the tragedy has left the Orlando community reeling.
Demings said the family arrived in Orlando on Sunday, where only hours earlier a gunman's attack on a gay nightclub left 49 people dead.
Two days before that, 22-year-old Christina Grimmie, a contestant on season six of "The Voice,'' was killed in Orlando while signing autographs after a show.
"I can't comprehend whatever this would be like as a parent, whether losing my 20-year-old at the Pulse or the 2-year-old," Mayor Teresa Jacobs said. "Our hearts goes out to that family."
The Seven Seas Lagoon is a man-made lake that feeds canals winding throughout the Disney property. Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park is across the lake from the resort.
Disney announced that the beaches are closed at all of its Orlando area resorts until further notice.
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