Child dragged into water by alligator near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, police say
The two-year-old boy who police say was dragged by an alligator into the water near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was still missing early Wednesday morning.
Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Rose Silva said the 2-year-old was dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon around 9:30 p.m., according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said rescue personnel had been searching for the child for hours but had not yet found him. They have a dive team with sonar equipment on standby and hope to recover him by daylight, the newspaper reported.
LIVE on #Periscope: Update on Disney gator attack https://t.co/1dReqgQAWs
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) June 15, 2016
Demings said the Nebraska family of five had been relaxing on shore when the alligator attacked the child, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The boy’s father tried to grab him from the alligator, but was not able to.
Officials are also searching the perimeter of the water with flashlights where toddler was taken by #gator #Disney pic.twitter.com/Jh22S1kzhU
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) June 15, 2016
Florida deputies initially had put up crime scene tape and searched the water by helicopter, the newspaper reported.
Around 50 members of the Reedy Creek Fire Rescue, Orange County and their Florida Fish and Wildlife officials volunteered to join the search for the child and the gator.
@OrangeCoSheriff responding to report of gator pulling child into water Grand Floridian@WaltDisneyWorld @Menardness pic.twitter.com/7niNxCPVX6
— Matt Austin (@MattNews6) June 15, 2016
A Disney official said they were “devastated” by the event, the newspaper said.
LIVE on #Periscope: Officials searching area where boy was dragged in water by #Disney https://t.co/QnX4MXdtSU
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) June 15, 2016
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
Contact Janna Karel at jkarel@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @jannainprogress
