'No question' toddler snatched by alligator is dead, police say | Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/15/no-question-toddler-snatched-by-alligator-is-dead-police-say.html?intcmp=hpbt1
This was sad news. I learned that an alligator snatched a toddler who was playing on the beach near a lagoon at Disney World and is presumed dead. Five gators have been caught, killed and stomachs examined with no sign of the young boy.
Prayers for the family and friends of the young boy who was snatched by the alligator.
"Orlando authorities directing the frantic search for a 2-year-old boy snatched Tuesday night by an alligator on the grounds of a Disney resort now say "there is no question" the child is dead.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said Wednesday that the incident was "not survivable," but that the search for the toddler's body would continue.
"The ultimate goal is try to bring some closure to the family by recovering their loved one," Demings said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
Disney announced Wednesday morning it was closing all of the beaches at its resorts out of an abundance of caution.
Even as authorities were scouring the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney World’s The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Wednesday morning, hope began to fade. By the afternoon, Demings said emergency crews were working on "recovering the body."
Five alligators had already been caught in the lagoon and euthanized Wednesday afternoon, but no evidence had been found indicating any of those reptiles were responsible for attacking the boy, a Florida Fish and Wildlife official said."
The toddler was playing at the edge of the shoreline of the lagoon when the alligator came up and snatched the boy, Williamson said. The boy’s family is from Nebraska and the parents were on vacation with their two children at the resort when the alligator attacked, Demings said.
"There were eyewitnesses here who certainly saw the child taken under the water," Demings said.
The boy's father entered the water and tried to grab the child from the reptile, but he was unsuccessful and sustained cuts and lacerations during the struggle, Demings said. The parents quickly alerted a lifeguard, but the lifeguard was too far away from the scene of the attack to help the father.
The initial report of the incident came in right before 9:30 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Rose Silva said.
More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the Seven Seas Lagoon, along with an alligator tracker and two marine units, Demings said. Reedy Creek Fire Rescue, Orange County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities were also involved, The Orlando Sentinel reported.
A sonar boat was used, because sending divers in would be like "seeking a needle in a haystack," Williamson told Fox News.
The attack happened at an area of the lagoon where “no swimming” signs were posted, Demings said. The boy wasn’t swimming in the water, but playing on the edge, about a foot or two into the water, Williamson said.
The alligator was estimated to be 4 feet to 7 feet long, but its exact size was not known, he said.
A.J. Jain, a guest at The Grand Floridian right outside Disney’s Magic Kingdom, told the Sentinel he and his children were playing at the same beach earlier Tuesday.
“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.”
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.
Demings said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.
"Disney has operated here now for 45 years and they’ve never had this type of thing happen here before," he said."