The father of a 3-year-old Nebraska boy who was killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World in June fought desperately but was unable to free the 3-foot, 30-pound child from the animal's jaws, according to an official report released Monday.
Lane Graves was on the water’s edge building sand castles at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort when he bent over to scoop up some water. The alligator grabbed the boy by his head and neck, puncturing his skull and neck in the process, and began dragging him into the water.
Matt Graves, the boy’s father, put his hands in the alligator’s mouth and tried to pry it open, but was unable to. An Illinois tourist who witnessed the attack told investigators that he saw Graves pull the boy by his feet, but the alligator “whipped him further out into the water.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ruled the attack an accident.
“The victim’s small size and position, (bent down) at the time of the attack, would appear to the alligator similar to many of its normal food sources,” the report said.
“We continue to pray for the Graves family,” said FWC director Nick Wiley. “FWC would like to thank Disney and our partners at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for the professional collaboration on this thorough investigation. Our agency will continue to work to keep families informed on how they can safely enjoy all that Florida has to offer.”
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