On Tuesday night, an alligator pulled a 2-year-old boy into a lagoon at the Grand Floridian Hotel near Orlando.
A search for the child immediately ensued and continued into Wednesday morning, but there is no sign of the child, authorities say. As a precaution, Disney has closed all beaches in its resort area.
The Reedy Creek emergency services call center processed a report about the attack at 9:16 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday. It occurred near the Seven Seas Lagoon of the hotel.
“This is still a search and rescue operation. We are very hopeful. We are hoping for the best,” said Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The child was wading in less than a foot of water on the edge of the lagoon when the alligator pulled him into the water. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley weighed in, saying how uncommon it is for people to be attacked by alligators, adding, “I am optimistic that we will have some success, but it will take some time.”
The boy’s family of four, including his parents and his 4-year-old-sister, was on vacation from Nebraska. The parents saw the alligator attack the toddler at the Seven Seas Lagoon, a lagoon connected to canals which lead to large bodies of water. The alligator was between 4 and 7 feet.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings explained that the father went into the water to try and free his son from the alligator’s grip; he was unsuccessful and obtained scratches on his hand. Soon after, the mother also entered the water looking for her child.
“The sad reality of it is it’s been several hours, and we’re not likely going to recover a live body,” Demings said.
Witnesses reported that the family was on the beach, the boy’s sister was in a playpen a short distance from the water, and the boy was wading in the water. There are “No Swimming” signs placed near the lagoon, and the child was the only one in the water at the time of the attack.
“Everyone here at the Walt Disney 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, a vice president at Walt Disney Resort.
Demings reported that there have been no recent reports of alligators in the area.
Jeff Corwin, a national animal expert, said it is strange this event occurred so close to a highly regulated area, but added that an alligator could travel through swamp and marsh into a lagoon. When an alligator bites down, its jaws snap closed with thousands of pounds of force. “I can’t imagine the terror on these people’s minds trying to manage this,” he said.
Authorities will continue the search until the boy is found or recovered. Helicopters, marine units, and an alligator trapper are among the rescue efforts. Divers are also at the ready.
“We’re not leaving until we recover the child,” Demings said.
The Orlando area has not had the best week. On Sunday, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay club in Orlando. On Saturday, a man shot and killed singer Christina Grimmie after a concert.
