Authorities are still searching for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator on the shores of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Tuesday night.
The child, who hasn’t been identified, was wading in the water when the alligator dragged him into the Seven Seas Lagoon around 9:30 p.m. The boys father called out for help from a nearby lifeguard after he tried to reach his son and rescue him, but was unable to.
Rescue teams have been searching for any sign of the boy for hours but haven’t found him, according to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
Image: Orlando Sentinel
“As a father, as a grandfather, we’re going to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us,” Demings said.
Vacationing in Orlando since Sunday, the boys family of five had traveled from Nebraska.
A.J. Jain and his wife, both guests of the hotel, traveled from Georgia to Disney for a conference.
“I’m just here to say a prayer,” he said. “I can’t imagine what those parents are going through. It’s been one tough week in Orlando.”
This attack is unfortunately just the most recent tragedy to hit Orlando within the last week.
Singer Christina Grime was murdered after a concert at the Plaza Live on Friday night. Her killer shot her and turned the gun on himself after.
A gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub early Sunday, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others before being killed when law enforcement raided the club.
“Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident,” said Demings. “Our thoughts are with the family. We are helping the family and doing everything we can to help law enforcement.”
