[Updated 1:50 p.m: Pacific]
In a media briefing, officials just announced that search teams have recovered the body of the 2-year-old who was attacked last night by an alligator at Walt Disney World's Grand Floridan Resort.
The body of 2-year-old Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, was located around 1:45 p.m. Eastern, and recovered around 3:30 p.m. according to Orange County Sheriff James Demings. The child's body was found completely intact about 15 feet from the shore where he was last seen, in about six feet of water. The body has been released to the medical examiner, who will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The child was attacked around 9:20 p.m. on the shore of the the Seven Seas Lagoon near the hotel while wading in the water. Sheriff Demings said witnesses saw the alligator drag the child under the water, and said during an earlier press conference that there was “no question” the child was dead.
More than 50 law enforcement personnel plus officials from Florida's Fish and Wildlife department searched the artificial lagoon for nearly 20 hours before locating the child's remains. Aided by helicopters, the search team included watercraft, divers, trappers and vessels carrying sonar equiment. Additional personnel were called in Wednesday morning to relieve the teams that searched overnight.
During the search, five alligators were taken from the Seven Seas Lagoon. Officials do not yet know if they have trapped the alligator who dragged the child into the water, but said they would continue searching to ensure that they have the alligator involved.
Parents Matt and Melissa Graves, along with Lane and a 4-year-old daughter, had checked in as guests of the Grand Floridan Resort. Demings said the family arrived at Walt Disney World this past Sunday, June 12.
The child and his family were on the beach for a “Movies Under the Stars” event hosted by the hotel. Witnesses said the child was wading in the lagoon in about a foot of water when the attack occured.
The father tried unsucessfully to rescue his son, and was injured in the attempt. Witnesses say the mother may have also gone into the water to try to rescue the toddler. A Walt Disney World lifeguard from a nearby pool was alerted to the attack, but was too far away to render aid in time to help.
Walt Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler gave a brief statement early Wednesday, saying, “Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident.” She said Disney was doing everything possible to help the family and law enforcement.
Nick Wiley from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the agency works closely with Disney to remove nuisance alligators as they are reported. He said alligator attacks are very rare in Florida.
Following the attack, Walt Disney World closed all its beaches. Ferry service had also been suspended on the Seven Seas Lagoon during the search.
