Child Missing After Alligator Drags Him Into Lake at Florida's Walt Disney World--Update
June 15 2016 - 11:26AM
Dow Jones News
By Erich Schwartzel
Authorities are searching a lake at a Walt Disney World resort
for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator
Tuesday evening.
Orlando, Fla., officials said the unidentified boy was relaxing
alongside the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
& Spa with his family when the alligator pulled him into the
water.
The boy's father attempted to fight off the alligator but was
unsuccessful, said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. The boy,
his parents and siblings were vacationing at the resort from
Nebraska, officials said.
"Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by
this tragic accident," said spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler. "Our
thoughts are with the family. We are helping the family and doing
everything we can to assist law enforcement."
On Wednesday, Disney closed the beaches at their resorts "in an
abundance of caution."
More than 50 law-enforcement personnel are searching the lake
just days after area officials grappled with the shooting at
Orlando's Pulse nightclub, a rampage that left 50 people dead in
the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Mr. Demings said his staff
was "very resilient" despite the stress of the past few days and
committed to finding the boy.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is also on
site with an alligator trapper, said Chad Weber, an officer with
the commission. Sonar equipment is being used to scan the lake and
a dive team is on standby.
The search for the boy began around 9:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday
evening. At the time of Mr. Demings's late-night press conference,
officials had been searching for about four hours, he said.
The boy and his family were on a sandy beach area alongside the
lake, with a baby playpen set up. The boy is believed to have been
wading in shallow water near the lake's edge when the alligator
attacked. Witnesses described the alligator as 4 to 7 feet long,
Mr. Demings said.
Authorities haven't received complaints of nuisance alligators
in the area, Mr. Demings said. He described the lake area being
searched as "fairly sizable" and said he had no record of previous
alligator attacks there.
"We're not leaving until we recover the child," said Mr.
Demings.
The Seven Seas Lagoon is a man-made lake that abuts the Grand
Floridian Resort and other Disney World attractions including the
Magic Kingdom. It covers about 200 acres and reaches depths of
about 14 feet, according to numerous fan websites about Walt Disney
World. The lake is primarily used for fishing, boating and ferry
rides to various parts of the park, though no swimming is
allowed.
Write to Erich Schwartzel at erich.schwartzel@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 15, 2016 11:11 ET (15:11 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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