Alligator Drags Boy Into Lagoon At Disney World Orlando’s Grand Floridian

An alligator at Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla., snatched up a 2-year-old boy and dragged him into the lagoon on the property Tuesday evening.

Alligator Snatches Boy At Disney

The roughly 7-foot-long alligator grabbed the boy as he was playing in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian, wading in about a foot of water with his father, reported USA Today. Though the father made an attempt to save the boy from the alligator’s grasp, he was unable to pull him to safety. Attempts by the mother to rescue the small child also proved futile.

“The father entered the water and he tried to grab the child, but was not successful in doing so,” Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters.

Unable to get their son back from the alligator, the parents informed a lifeguard of the situation and 911 was called. The father suffered lacerations to his arms in his efforts to save his son.

Orange Country Sheriff’s office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers have been involved in the search for the toddler. The search, which began Tuesday night, has continued into Wednesday morning. Thus far, four alligators have been removed from the Seven Seas lagoon. Though no signs of the child were discovered, the alligators are to be euthanized to verify whether or not they were involved in snatching him.

“People – even small people – are not their typical prey,” Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said. “They were probably attracted to some motion on the bank. That’s the way they stalk their prey.”

The Seven Seas Lagoon at the upscale Grand Floridian is marked with “no swimming” signs. There are no previous incidences of alligator attacks at the hotel.

The boy’s family arrived in Orlando from Nebraska on Sunday. He is one of three children.

“Everyone here at the Walt Disney World resort is devastated by this tragic accident,” Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said. “We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement.”