Family of Boy Killed by Gator at Disney World Is 'Devastated'

Disney says it will install signs warning visitors of alligators
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 16, 2016 6:03 PM CDT
Family of Boy Killed by Gator at Disney World Is 'Devastated'
Orange County Sheriff's officers search the Seven Seas Lagoon between Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park and the Grand Floridian Resort on Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

The family of Lane Graves, the 2-year-old killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World on Tuesday, released a statement Thursday, staying it's "devastated" by his death. "Words cannot describe the shock and grief our family is experiencing over the loss of our son," ABC News quotes Matt and Melissa Graves as saying in the statement. They offered their "deepest gratitude" to authorities and staff who worked to find their son after the attack. The family was hanging out on the beach at Seven Seas Lagoon near Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort when Lane was grabbed by an alligator and dragged underwater. His body was found Wednesday.

On Thursday, the medical examiner announced Lane died from drowning and traumatic injuries, CNN reports. Disney also released a statement Thursday, promising to install alligator warning signs. “We are conducting a swift and thorough review of all of our processes and protocols," the Orlando Sentinel quotes the statement as saying. "This includes the number, placement, and wording of our signage and warnings." The only warning signs currently placed around the Seven Seas Lagoon read "no swimming please." Since the attack on Lane, a number of tourists have come forward about seeing alligators at Disney World. Disney was sued in 1986 after an alligator bit a child at its Fort Wilderness campground. (More Disney World stories.)

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