BRIAN MCBRIDE,Good Morning America 13 hours ago
Police released a photo of the boy Wednesday evening, putting a face to the tragedy.
The body of the toddler, identified by authorities as Lane Graves, was found about 10 to 15 yards from shore, according to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
The attack occurred around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, he
said, and eyewitnesses saw an alligator grab the child. No one was in
the water at the time. "The father entered the water and tried to grab the child from the gator but was not successful," Demings added.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office dive team located the body around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday and recovered it less than two hours later. The body has been turned over to the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, Demings told reporters.
He informed the boy's parents, Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, that their son's body was found, calling it a "tough message to deliver."
A Catholic priest accompanied him to deliver the message, Demings said, and the family was "distraught but somewhat relieved" that authorities were able to locate their son with his body intact.
George A. Kalogridis, the president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a 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."
Robert A. Iger, the chairman and CEO of the
Walt Disney Co., said in a statement, "As a parent and a grandparent, my
heart goes out to the Graves family during this time of devastating
loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I know everyone at
Disney joins me in offering our deepest sympathies."
Boy's Body Found After Gator Attack at Disney Resort, Officials Say
Orlando Nurse Posts Pic of Grandson on Beach Where Gator Attacked Toddler
Iger spoke to the family from Shanghai, and Kalogridis immediately flew to Orlando from Shanghai after learning about the incident, a spokesman for Disney said.
The Tuesday incident sparked a huge search for the boy in the Seven Seas Lagoon, an artificial lake on Disney property, with dozens of rescue crews combing it with sonar equipment and alligator trappers brought in, officials said. Rescue teams were initially hopeful that they would find the boy alive.
The resort temporarily closed its beach areas and recreational marinas Wednesday. There are no warning signs of gators in the area, but there are notices posted against swimming in the man-made lake. Disney will look into all issues concerning the signage, said Nick Wiley, the executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Five alligators have been taken from the lake and euthanized, he said, adding that there is a "good chance" one of those alligators attacked the boy. Investigators will analyze teeth marks to make a determination.
Disney has a "very proactive program" of routinely removing alligators that pose a threat, Wiley said.
Boy's Body Found After Gator Attack at Disney Resort, Officials Say
Orlando Nurse Posts Pic of Grandson on Beach Where Gator Attacked Toddler
Iger spoke to the family from Shanghai, and Kalogridis immediately flew to Orlando from Shanghai after learning about the incident, a spokesman for Disney said.
The Tuesday incident sparked a huge search for the boy in the Seven Seas Lagoon, an artificial lake on Disney property, with dozens of rescue crews combing it with sonar equipment and alligator trappers brought in, officials said. Rescue teams were initially hopeful that they would find the boy alive.
The resort temporarily closed its beach areas and recreational marinas Wednesday. There are no warning signs of gators in the area, but there are notices posted against swimming in the man-made lake. Disney will look into all issues concerning the signage, said Nick Wiley, the executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Five alligators have been taken from the lake and euthanized, he said, adding that there is a "good chance" one of those alligators attacked the boy. Investigators will analyze teeth marks to make a determination.
Disney has a "very proactive program" of routinely removing alligators that pose a threat, Wiley said.
Disney is the parent company of ABC News.
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