2 year old boy killed by an alligator in Disneyland

The father of the two-year-old boy reportedly tried and failed to rescue his son from gator’s jaws.


It has emerged that the father of a missing toddler dragged off by an alligator at Disney World in Orlando, Florida desperately tried to rescue his son from the animal’s jaws.

Disney closed the resort indefinitely early on Thursday (AEST) and rounded up and killed four alligators. The boy’s body was not found.

The two-year-old had been playing just 30 centimetres into the Seven Seas Lagoon at about 9.20pm Tuesday (local time) with his parents and four-year-old sibling nearby when the alligator emerged from water and latched onto him, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said during a press conference.

The father unsuccessfully tried to wrestle the boy from the gator’s mouth, leaving him with minor arm injuries, according to the sheriff.

“There is a sandy beach area and the family was out simply relaxing and in the water along the lake’s edge at the time the alligator attacked the child,” Sheriff Demings said.

“It’s my understanding the father was there nearby and the child was playing in the water, just a foot or so into the water, and the alligator came up.

“The father at some point struggled to try to get his son and was not successful and then alerted others to try and assist him in the process.”

Fresh eyes

Nine hours later, at 6am Orlando time, officials held a press conference to announce the child had still not been found.

“This is still a search and rescue operation,” said Jeff
Williamson, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are very hopeful. We are hoping for the best.”
He said the family was on holiday from Nebraska and had arrived at the resort on Sunday.

Sheriff Demings said the alligator was described by witnesses as between four and seven feet long (1.2 to 2.1 metres).

Marine units on boats, a helicopter and sonar equipment were searching the area, while an alligator trap was set and a dive team was on standby.

“We want to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based upon my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead,” Sheriff Demings said.

“The sad reality of it is it’s been several hours and we’re not likely going to recover a live body,” he said.

Chad Weber from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they were working with police and “putting every effort forward … we’ll be here with them until there’s resolution”.

“We’re doing our best to deal with all the situations that we have going on here, but our staff is very resilient and tonight they’re very focused on assisting this family.”

Mr Weber said this was the youngest victim of an alligator attack his agency had seen.

Disney reacts

A Disney spokeswoman said: “Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident.

“Our thoughts are with the family and helping law
enforcement.”

Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jeff Williamson said there was no word on when the resort would be re-opened, as the lagoon was now a crime scene.

Since 2000, 16 people have been killed by alligators in the US.

There were reportedly “No swimming” signs at the lagoon.

Orlando is already reeling from the Pulse nightclub shooting on Sunday and the brutal murder of former The Voice starlet Christina Grimmie the day before.