Two-Year Old Snatched by Alligator at Disney World from Nebraska
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heard this about midnight on radio news. just a gut-wrenching tragedy. hope and prayers out to that family.
Just a horrific story and prayers to the family.
This is a good reminder of how quickly one's life can change, in an instant.
Be good to others and take an extra moment for those you love and care about.
This is a good reminder of how quickly one's life can change, in an instant.
Be good to others and take an extra moment for those you love and care about.
Absolutely devastating news. I've got a two year old son that got significantly stronger hugs this morning when he woke up.
Tragedy.....Is this beach area set up for sun bathing or lounging? Are there signs posted about no swimming? Hundreds of cats/dogs are taken in ponds, lakes and canals every year. Florida has millions of alligators why would you even let people in that water in the first place.
I've been there several times. It is a high end resort with all kinds of retail (food, shops, bars, etc.) adjacent to the property where they were. I never would have imagined this could happen to anyone...while well aware of gators presence in that area. This could have happened to anyone. It was a freak occurrence. That place has been there a long time, and nothing like this has happened to date to my knowledge.
Prayers for the poor family.
Check it out on google maps. There is a huge lagoon along the property. The place is beautiful, and there are places you can get close to the water IIRC, but I don't believe there's any swimming there. I think you can get in little boats and stuff like that.
Heard the family is from Omaha. I can't even imagine the hell the dad who tried to stop the gator is going through.
Any guests feeding gators need to be b****slapped and prosecuted. Those gators have survived for millions of years lurking just under the water line and launching surprise attacks.
It is confusing. From what I have read, there were signs that say no swimming, but there was also a lifeguard. Why would there be lifeguards at a place where there is no swimming? I used to live in Florida and the gators are everywhere. Usually they are not aggressive since people are not their usual prey. The exception are pets and small children.
Arrived at the office to learn that this was the son of my boss. Truly a great guy and family. Unfathomable. Everyone please keep them in your prayers.
Given the diverse clientele, most who have no experience with gator country, and the resort's proximity to the assumed safety of the Happiest Place on Earth, "no swimming" signs seem inadequate to express the danger lurking. All in all this has been one of the worst weeks in recent memory and this death was the topper. My wife just said it will be a miracle if the father can survive the guilt.
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Agree w hddude.
When we moved to Florida 5 years ago, one of the first things we were told was never to let our pets nor children near any body of fresh water, including retention ponds and man-made lakes at developments. We never did, but I always thought they were overstating the risk, until I was visiting a friends house where 5-7 houses surround a pond, and out of the pond walks a 5 footer.
An absolutely terrible situation. My prayers to the family
When we moved to Florida 5 years ago, one of the first things we were told was never to let our pets nor children near any body of fresh water, including retention ponds and man-made lakes at developments. We never did, but I always thought they were overstating the risk, until I was visiting a friends house where 5-7 houses surround a pond, and out of the pond walks a 5 footer.
An absolutely terrible situation. My prayers to the family
True, this is on Disney! Being from Iowa and living in Florida for 3 years opened my eyes to all the dangers that people living in the Midwest don't think about (lots of snakes). I've seen many signs posted around fresh water areas warning of gators to small children and pets. With so many children on the property you would think of all places Disney would have more than a "No Swimming" sign. May the father one day find peace and not blame himself, it wasn't his fault. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
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This is a terrible tragedy, but saying "This is on Disney!" is dumb. Why is a two year old, apparently out of arms reach, wading in a body of water at night with "no swimming" signs posted in the first place?
I can't even imagine. When we go to my places in Destin there are a few lakes around and, obviously, the Bay. I won't let the kids near the water in the Bay and get a bit skittish when they are in the ocean and the dolphins are playing around out there. All the fins look alike to me.
I wouldn't go so far as to place all of the blame on Disney but do wonder why a known gator habitat with many sightings of gators wasn't marked as such, especially given the tourist clientele. If it doesn't fit the Disney image to have scary signs warning of gators, then the manmade ponds adjoining the resort should be drained and/or the fake beaches removed. We all understand we are entering the food chain when we play in the ocean, but would hardly expect that when we play on an inland resort's fake beach. And whether the kid was wading -- as reported -- or merely on the beach near the water, he was obviously in danger.
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I can't imagine that any parent would allow their kid anywhere near the water...if they were given any indication of alligators by the staff when they checked into the resort. Not that it matters much at this point, because a family's life will never be the same, but this has lawsuit written all over it.
IIRC, I thought I saw warnings somewhere when I was last there, that gators could be present, but not 100% certain.
Exactly. It's not like the visitors are going to know all about the dangers of gators in Florida. Instead of "No Swimming", how about a few "Beware of Alligators" signs? Were they more worried about scaring off people than warning them?
A terrible tragedy. Prayers go out to the family.
Sure, so signage might be good going forward, but I have a hard time blaming Disney. It's central Florida, gator country, etc. Should every gas station along I-80 in western Nebraska be required to put up rattlesnake warning signs?
Sure, so signage might be good going forward, but I have a hard time blaming Disney. It's central Florida, gator country, etc. Should every gas station along I-80 in western Nebraska be required to put up rattlesnake warning signs?
The Seven Seas Lagoon is a man made lake and it's soil was used to raise Magic Kingdom. Florida is gator country but my lord. It's one of the main boating and swimming beach areas next the deluxe resorts in Walt Disney World. If your children aren't safe there then that's a huge problem for Disney.
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Even Disney can't fully control nature. I'm sure there are a few pythons and boas lurking around there also. Fortunately these tragedies are rare. Heartbreaking still.
Disney has the money and resources to literally make sure this never happens again. The idea that your children aren't safe on Disney property and there's nothing they can do about it is something that Disney won't stand for.
And shouldn't stand for. This should never happen on Disney soil. Period. This is going to cost them dearly on so many levels (that family will rightfully sue for a mint, plus short term loss of tourism for what is flat out a horrible tragedy).
I don't think anyone has words beyond "this is awful" and "prayers for the family".
If you know of a trust or anything to help this family out would you please share.
I've been sick to my stomach since hearing this news. As a father of a 3 year-old boy and young daughter I don't think I'd ever be able to overcome being unable to rescue one of them as they are killed in front of my eyes.
Definitely prayers for the family. I can't imagine the pain they are feeling.
but..
I don't see why people seem to feel that Disney is liable here. The child was in the water in an area where it was clearly marked as a no swimming area. Rules were broken - and not by Disney.
Disney will probably offer some sort of compensation (can't really think of a good word) for the tragedy that occurred, but it's absurd that people think Disney is at fault here. The family is just as liable as anybody else.
I am sick over it as well. still seems very surreal. I fear it will haunt him until his last breath.
I will definitely share any news of a trust.
Point taken. However, the "do not swim" signs could be for anything and frankly... life threatening situations like that are inexcusable. if you do nothing about the problem and are leaving problems that cost a 2-year-old their life to do as they please, then i don't see how a sign or two saying "don't swim" matters.
The point that each stop shouldn't have to put up rattler signs in western nebraska is a valid one... but on the other side of it, this is a manmade lake. it's not a natural lake. the "do not swim" signs don't imply "gators" and if you're not from that area you're not going to think about it -- because you're on disney property.
there's enough grey area there for a lawyer to go after -- not sure exactly what was said on the signs, but if it's as simple as "no swimming allowed" then disney is screwed IMO.
if nothing else, i can guaruntee you that the amount of people wanting to visit just dropped significantly.
If the no swimming signs were ignored, what makes everybody think signs regarding gators wouldn't be? People ignore warnings and wildlife notices all the time.
Disney is at fault for assuming that people would follow the rules, and that situational awareness and common sense would be part of the equation. I hate even having to say that because I feel terrible for the family involved, but c'mon folks.
The fact that there's a gator on disney property and they did nothing about it and are selling tickets for entrance makes them responsible for safety from wild animals IMO... but then again i'm not a lawyer.
It's not like a random lake where there might be a rattler or a mountain lion and you're trespassing -- you're there of your own accord and not supposed to be there. it's also not like a random gas station where you'er walking through the grass and get bitten -- you don't have to be there and you're not paying for entrance. you're paying for entrance to the park here, wild animals are supposed to be out of the equation. No swimming signs are generally there to stop drowning, not gators.
Lawyers on here can feel free to correct me.
Virtually every public access fresh water lake in Florida (man made or natural) have scary gator warning signs. Why did Disney choose not to post those signs? Because "the happiest place on earth" shouldn't scare anyone. I have no doubt that if the father would have seen one of these signs his son would not have been anywhere near that water. I guarantee those signs will be posted now but unfortunately a 2 year old had to die first. Sometimes someone is at fault!
Wrong.
Lived in Florida for many years. Like it was posted earlier, there are millions of them and there really is no secure place I can think of that wouldn't have gators in them - no matter how much money is spent. They find their way into every scenario down there....you see it all the time. Most locals will tell you its safe to swim during the day - gators typically feed at night - but even the golf courses warn of searching for balls in the brush near water.....don't do it! I personally never went into the lakes/ponds down there to swim.
This is a tragedy and as a father, I would be sick to my stomach, but don't think for a minute you can protect against gators in every situation. They were here long before we were.....development is causing this to be more and more common.
I have no idea what the thought processes were that went through the relevant Disney execs' heads, but one problem might very well have been 'Alligators Beware' signs having the opposite effect. I know that bear warning signs in Colorado and Alaska often are magnets to tourists wanting to see "the cute little bears". "Beware of Alligators" signs might have the same type of opposite- than-intended effect. I have no idea, just throwing it out there.
http://pix11.com/2016/06/15/body-of-2-year-old-dragged-by-alligator-in-orlando-found-sources-say/
I guess the family can at least have closure. I didn't think the body would be recovered. Gut wrenching.
I guess the family can at least have closure. I didn't think the body would be recovered. Gut wrenching.
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