Parents tried to save 2-year-old dragged into Florida lake by gator, deputies say

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The parents of a 2-year-old boy who was dragged from his family by an alligator as they waded in Florida waters Tuesday attempted to fight off the alligator before it got away with their child, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

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Divers with the Sheriff's Office said they recovered the remains of Lane Graves, 2, around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The discovery was made about 10 to 15 yards into the Seven Seas Lagoon from where he was taken.

"The father entered the water and he tried to grab the child," said Sheriff Jerry Demings. "At some point, I'm told the mother may have entered the water. So the parents diligently tried to get the child."

The father, identified by Demings as Matt Graves, suffered minor cuts to his arms, a Sheriff's Office spokesman said. The mother was identified as Melissa Graves.

The couple and their three children were visiting from Elkhorn, Nebraska.

At least one of the children, a 4-year-old, was playing nearby as the family relaxed near a pool at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

"The 2-year-old was just along the edge of the bank (of Seven Seas Lagoon) playing in the water when this occurred," Demings said.

He was pulled in by an alligator. Family members alerted a life guard, who was unable to free the child. Authorities responded to the scene just after 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Demings and a priest told the Graves family Lane's body had been found Wednesday afternoon.

"Of course the family was distraught but also I think (they were) somewhat relieved," Demings said. "They can come to grips with what is happening."

Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said authorities will continue to investigate the case. He said five alligators have been located an euthanized, although it wasn't entirely clear whether the alligator responsible for Lane's death was among them.

However, Wiley said, "There's a good chance that we already have that alligator."

Cox Media Group