The tragic discovery was made after officers said there was "no question" the little boy had died
The body of a boy dragged into the water by an alligator at Walt Disney World resort has been found.
The unnamed tot was attacked by an alligator as he paddled on the shore of the five-star Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida last night.
His parents watched in terror as the reptile clenched its jaws around him, before pulling him into the Seven Seas Lagoon near the premier hotel.
Police stated in a press conference earlier "there is no question" the child is dead, adding: "We're gonna to continue to search until we find the body."
Speaking during a live press conference, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said: "We are dealing with this family who there's no question will lose a two-year-old child."
"It has been now about 15 hours since the child was taken into the water by an alligator," he continued.
"So we know that we are working now on recovering the body of the child at this point."
"Our ultimate goal is to bring some closure to the family by recovering their loved one.
"Disney has operated here for 45 years and they have never had this type of thing happen before"
Sheriff Deming also told reporters it was a "complicated event" but that 50 officers were searching the man-made lake and a marine unit was using sonar.
He added: "Disney is doing all it can to make the family comfortable."
Disney World announced this afternoon that all beaches, ferry boats and marinas are closed until further notice.
Video shot by Twitter user ' Christian the Magician ' - who was first to break the news of the tragedy last night - shows the area deserted.
Boats can be seen scouring the water for the animal and a helicopter heard hovering overhead.
Four alligators have so far been killed by rescuers searching for a toddler.
Their bodies were examined but there was no evidence that any of them had attacked the boy snatched last night.
Vice President of Walt Disney World Resort Jacquee Wahler said in an earlier statement: "Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family.
“We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement."
No comments:
Write comments