FLORIDA

Toddler found dead after alligator pulls him into lagoon at Walt Disney World resort

Maryann Batlle
Naples Daily News

LAKE BUENA VISTA — A 15-hour search ended Wednesday with the recovery of the body of a 2-year-old boy who was pulled underwater by an alligator near a luxury Disney World hotel.

Lane Graves, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, disappeared into the Seven Seas Lagoon late Tuesday night. His 'intact' body was detected by sonar under the murky water at 1:45 p.m., and Orange County Sheriff's Office divers recovered him about two hours later, according to Sheriff Jerry Demings.

An autopsy will determine Lane's cause of death, but Demings said there is 'likely no question' that the alligator drowned the child.

The Graves family is 'distraught' over Lane's death, but is 'relieved he was found and the body was intact,' said Demings.

The discovery of Lane's body concludes an exhaustive search that began after the unthinkable happened during what was supposed to be just another Disney World vacation.

George A. Kalogridis, president of the Walt Disney World Resort, issued a statement following the killing of the 2-year-old, saying '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.'

Lane's body was discovered about 10 to 15 yards from the manmade beach near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, where he had been wading before an alligator dragged him away from his parents, Matt and Melissa Graves.

Matt Graves tried to save his child from the 7- to 8-foot alligator but was unsuccessful, according to the sheriff's office. Melissa Graves also rushed into the water. After their attempts failed, the Graves' notified a nearby lifeguard, who called 911.

When the search began shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday, the mission was to rescue Lane. As the hours dragged on, that scenario became less likely, and the search shifted to the recovery of his body.

Helicopters circled the site overhead. Search crews used sonar equipment and alerted divers, who were on standby to check out any leads, according to the sheriff's office.

American Alligators are 'opportunistic feeders' that look for prey at night, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This is the first deadly alligator attack in the 45 years Disney has been in operation, said Nick Wiley, FWC executive director.

Seven Seas Lagoon encompasses multiple bodies of water and at least one canal. As a result of Tuesday's attack, all beaches were closed until further notice at Walt Disney World Resort, which includes the Grand Floridian and more than two dozen other hotels.

Five alligators were caught and euthanized during the search for Lane, and it is possible that the one that took Lane into the water is among them, said Wiley.

Staff Writer Alexi C. Cardona, the Associated Press and USA Today contributed to this report.