Sheriff: Toddler's Body Recovered After Gator Attack
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ORLANDO (CBSMiami) - The body of a toddler dragged off by an alligator at a Walt Disney World Resort has been found, said the Orange County Sheriff.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the body of 2-year-old Lane Graves was recovered around 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
"The child was found. His body was completely intact," said Demings. "He was within the area where he was last seen."
The child's body has been taken to the Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy.
Demings identified Lane's parents as Matt and Melissa Graves from Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Despite finding the body, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley says it's not over.
"Although we have some sort of closure, our investigation is still ongoing," said Wiley who added they will make sure that they captured the alligator that attacked the child and remove it from the lake.
Earlier in the day, Demings said there was no question the 2 year old was dead. Around noon, officials said the investigation had gone from a rescue mission to recovery.
The incident happened behind the Grand Floridian Hotel. The toddler was attacked and dragged away by the gator around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"This two-year-old child was playing at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or so in the water, when this alligator came up and attacked this child. His father tried his best to rescue the child but to no avail," said sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson during a Wednesday morning briefing.
"There was a lifeguard on duty as well, however the lifeguard was not able to render much aid because he was too far away apparently," Williamson added. "And the gator swam away with the child."
Dozens of officers and law enforcement searched the Seven Seas Lagoon and surrounding waters throughout the day. Divers, helicopters, boats with sonar equipment, along with an alligator trapper were part of the operation. They even pulled four gators out of the water and were set to examine them.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley said they work with Disney to remove nuisance gators from the property. He added that gator attacks on humans are pretty rare.
"It's not common at all, it's very rare in Florida and anywhere you find alligators," said Wiley.
"Disney has operated here now for 45 years and they've never had this type of thing happened before," said Williamson.
The Nebraska family of four arrived on June 12th for a vacation at the upscale Disney resort.
"Everyone here at resort is devastated by tragic accident. We are helping the family everything we can," said Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler.
The sheriff said there were no other recent reports of alligator attacks at the lake, and there are signs that say "NO swimming" posted in the area.
Disney announced earlier that they are closing all of their beaches on resorts that have them. They also suspended ferry service.
Zoo Miami's Ron Magill spoke about the rarity of alligator attacks while on CNN.
"It's incredibly rare for gators to be attack people but this is a small child that is in the water at night - shallow water. That gator could have mistaken it for a raccoon, a possum, it's a normal feeding time. This is a time when alligators are moving everywhere," said Magill.
He went on to say, over the next couple of months alligators will be nesting so make sure to be aware if you're walking near a canal or lake.
