Disney Alligator Attack: Fence Installed After 2-Year-Old Lane Graves Is Killed [Photo]
More details about the Disney alligator attack have emerged over the weekend, just a few weeks after Lane Graves was killed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Lane’s dad, Matt Graves, revealed that there were actually two gators in the area at the time of the attack.
Second alligator was involved in Disney attack that killed Lane Graves: report https://t.co/88nCWONqUY pic.twitter.com/uCp7LIhS2M
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) July 4, 2016
“This incredibly sweet couple insisted on showing us pictures of their happy son. [The] mom kept referring to him as her ‘happy boy,'” wrote Capt. Tom Wellons with the Reedy Creek Fire Department in public records. “He said on the way to the hospital, Graves shared ‘the horror that he experienced’ as his son was being pulled into the water and ‘how another gator attacked him as he fought for his son,’ Wellons wrote in the email,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The Disney alligator attack claimed the life of 2-year-old Lane Graves, who had been playing in the shallow waters on a beach area on the resort’s expansive property. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, there were signs posted along the shore that read “no swimming,” but there were no signs warning that alligators could have been lurking in the lagoon.
Officials worked tirelessly to try to locate Lane Graves’ body following the attack. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the child’s body was found 15 yards from the shore, six feet underwater about 16 hours later; the boy’s body was intact. Over that period of time, five alligators were caught in the Seven Seas Lagoon, and all were euthanized.
Since the Disney alligator attack that claimed the life of Lane Graves, the Disney property has installed “raised fencing” around the lake and have posted very clear signs that warn of alligators and snakes.
.@WaltDisneyWorld confirms it has added netting to the fence at the Grand Floridian Beach to keep people from water pic.twitter.com/tRMfMUZmgf
— Amanda Ober (@AmandaOberWESH) June 29, 2016
Millions of people were saddened to hear the news, many having been on that very beach with their children in years past.
Shortly after the death of their son, Matt and Melissa Graves released a statement about the tragedy. According to KETV, the family returned home to Nebraska after what should have been an amazing family vacation filled with wonderful memories. Instead, they began planning Lane’s funeral.
“Melissa and I continue to deal with the loss of our beloved boy, Lane, and are overwhelmed with the support and love we have received from family and friends in our community as well as from around the country. We understand the public’s interest, but as we move forward this weekend, we ask for and appreciate the privacy we need to lay our son to rest. Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly; we simply cannot at this time.”
Since the Disney alligator attack, there has been no word on whether or not the family plans to sue the Grand Floridian or Walt Disney World. While some people believe a lawsuit is appropriate, others realize that there may have been some sort of clause or “fine print” in the family’s hotel contract that lists the hotel and Walt Disney World as “not responsible” for various things, which would protect the company in an incident like this one. It is unknown what Disney has done to try to help the family following this tragedy.
[Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]
