It is not the kind of news you expect when you are in Disneyland and what you'd like to see are mascots. But recently, the real thing showed up that turned the fantasy land into a realistic nightmare.
The body of a 2 year old toddler, from Nebraska, was mauled and dragged into the lake by an alligator at Walt Disney World, Florida. According to CNN, the body has been recovered later in the afternoon. It's not the usual alligator you'd see walking around signing autographs or taking selfies with children.
The recovered body was described to be "completely intact." ABC News has it that it was found about 15 feet from the shore by authorities. Because of this incident, the park's business had to close down and alligators have been removed from the lake. Nick Wiley, the Executive Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that the Walt Disney Alligators have been euthanized.
The entertainment and recreation company has been very proactive in routinely removing alligators from Walt Disney World as they pose a threat to patrons. This was the first reported incident in the site. Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska are distressed about what had happened to their son.
George A. Kalogridis, the president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement, "There are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and their unimaginable loss. We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help the family during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer our deepest sympathies."
Officials estimate that the Walt Disney alligator was between 4 to 7 feet long. There were no warning signs signifying that there may be alligators in the area. Disney has already promised to look into the matter further.
