http://www.clickorlando.com/news/de...boy-dragged-into-water-by-alligator-at-disney
WALT DISNEY WORLD, Fla. - The search for a boy who deputies say was dragged by an alligator into the water at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World continues.
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The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in a sandy waterfront area outside the hotel near the Seven Seas Lagoon on hotel property.
The 2-year-old boy was on vacation with his family from Nebraska and arrived at the resort Sunday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Witnesses said the family was on the beach and the boy's 4-year-old sister was in a playpen about 20 to 30 yards from the water on the sand, according to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. The toddler was wading in the water nearby.
[RELATED: News 6 gets a firsthand account of alligator trapping Alligator trapped after being found with body in mouth, cops say | Alligator halts traffic in Palm Coast]
"The father actually went into the water to wrestle his son from the grips of the alligator," Demings said.
Officials asid the father suffered minor scratches on his hand, but was unsuccessful in getting his son back. Demings said the boy's mother also went into the water, trying to find her child.
Jeff Williamson with Orange County Sheriff's Office said at a Wednesday morning news conference that the search for the boy is still a search and recovery mission and that they are holding out for the best outcome.
"I don't think we've had a child this young involved in an attack," Williamson said. More than a dozen boats, three with sonar, along with a helicopter and a dive team will continue to search for the boy.
Gator drags child into water map
"It is tragic. It is heartbreaking. You know how a father must have felt. I cannot come to grips to what it must have been like," Williamson said.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said it removed four alligators from the lake to euthanize and analyze them, but none was believed to be the gator involved in the attack.
The alligator that grabbed the boy was described as 4 to 7 feet in length.
?We have not had any recent reports or complaints of nuisance gators in the area,? Demings said.
There are "No Swimming" signs at the lagoon, and no one else was in the water at the time of the attack besides the child, Demings said.
This body of water is not for recreational swimming, "likely for that very reason," Demings said. "This is Florida and it's not uncommon for alligators to be in bodies of water."
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Photos: Child dragged by alligator in lake at Disney resort, deputies say
Nick Wiley from FWC said that it's not clear if the boy was swimming and that all officers know is the boy was on the edge of the water.
"I would tell guests this is an extremely rare occurrence, but you still have to be careful," Wiley said, adding that daylight will help the search.
"The sad reality of it is it's been several hours and we're not likely going to recover a live body," Demings said, adding, ?We?re not leaving until we recover the child."
?Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family. We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement,? said Jacquee Wahler, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort.
The FWC is investigating the case with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
?Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,? FWC officer Chad Weber said.
Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this story.
WALT DISNEY WORLD, Fla. - The search for a boy who deputies say was dragged by an alligator into the water at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World continues.
More News Headlines
News 6 gets a firsthand account of alligator trapping
Florida man describes losing arm in alligator attack
Alligator attacks toddler at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Alligators have a loss of fear
GoPro footage with FWC trapper Ray York
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in a sandy waterfront area outside the hotel near the Seven Seas Lagoon on hotel property.
The 2-year-old boy was on vacation with his family from Nebraska and arrived at the resort Sunday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Witnesses said the family was on the beach and the boy's 4-year-old sister was in a playpen about 20 to 30 yards from the water on the sand, according to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. The toddler was wading in the water nearby.
[RELATED: News 6 gets a firsthand account of alligator trapping Alligator trapped after being found with body in mouth, cops say | Alligator halts traffic in Palm Coast]
"The father actually went into the water to wrestle his son from the grips of the alligator," Demings said.
Officials asid the father suffered minor scratches on his hand, but was unsuccessful in getting his son back. Demings said the boy's mother also went into the water, trying to find her child.
Jeff Williamson with Orange County Sheriff's Office said at a Wednesday morning news conference that the search for the boy is still a search and recovery mission and that they are holding out for the best outcome.
"I don't think we've had a child this young involved in an attack," Williamson said. More than a dozen boats, three with sonar, along with a helicopter and a dive team will continue to search for the boy.
Gator drags child into water map
"It is tragic. It is heartbreaking. You know how a father must have felt. I cannot come to grips to what it must have been like," Williamson said.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said it removed four alligators from the lake to euthanize and analyze them, but none was believed to be the gator involved in the attack.
The alligator that grabbed the boy was described as 4 to 7 feet in length.
?We have not had any recent reports or complaints of nuisance gators in the area,? Demings said.
There are "No Swimming" signs at the lagoon, and no one else was in the water at the time of the attack besides the child, Demings said.
This body of water is not for recreational swimming, "likely for that very reason," Demings said. "This is Florida and it's not uncommon for alligators to be in bodies of water."
WKMG 1 of 4
Photos: Child dragged by alligator in lake at Disney resort, deputies say
Nick Wiley from FWC said that it's not clear if the boy was swimming and that all officers know is the boy was on the edge of the water.
"I would tell guests this is an extremely rare occurrence, but you still have to be careful," Wiley said, adding that daylight will help the search.
"The sad reality of it is it's been several hours and we're not likely going to recover a live body," Demings said, adding, ?We?re not leaving until we recover the child."
?Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family. We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement,? said Jacquee Wahler, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort.
The FWC is investigating the case with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
?Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,? FWC officer Chad Weber said.
Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this story.
