Alligator drags child into water at Disney's Grand Floridian hotel

[Deberg_1990]

Wow


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...614-story.html


Deputies were searching late Tuesday night for a toddler who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa earlier in the evening, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The 2-year-old child was dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9:30 p.m., Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Rose Silva said.

Deputies were searching the waters and put crime-scene tape around area to block it off. Multiple emergency vehicles filled the front drive of the Victorian-style hotel and a helicopter hovered overhead.

The child, whose name was not available, has not been found as of 11 p.m.



Some witnesses said they saw the toddler along the beach near the water, but no eye-witnesses to him being dragged into the water by an alligator were available for comment Tuesday night.

The hotel is an upscale luxury resort owned by Disney. It is one of three hotels on the monorail line, just one stop away from the Magic Kingdom Park.

Hotel guest A.J. Jain and his family were visiting Disney from Georgia and said he and his kids were playing on the beach near the scene of the incident earlier Tuesday.

“I’m just here to say a prayer,” he said. “I can’t imagine what those parents are going through. It’s been one tough week in Orlando.”

It is not clear if the missing child was staying at the hotel.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by wazu

Yeah, but the graphic said "non-venemous".

Didn't enlarge the graphic to study it in depth before posting.
Just saw 'what about ant deaths' posted and reminded me of what mother****ers fire ants are.

Looking at the graphic now, it's 9 annual deaths for 'non-venomous [sp] arthropods.'

Those aren't necessarily 'ant deaths' even if ants are used to represent non-venomous arthropods graphically. Could be any disease carrying insect [Lyme Disease, Bubonic Plague, etc].

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Didn't enlarge the graphic to study it in depth before posting.
Just saw 'what about ant deaths' posted and reminded me of what mother****ers fire ants are.

Looking at the graphic now, it's 9 annual deaths for 'non-venomous [sp] arthropods.'

Those are necessarily 'ant deaths' even if ants are used to represent non-venomous arthropods graphically. Could be any disease carrying insect [Lyme Disease, Bubonic Plague, etc].

Yeah, wish there was detail. Army ants could do this if they existed somewhere within U.S. territory. Can't imagine what else.

[wazu]

Oh, and if they mean disease carrying insects I think that's cheating. Do they also count people who get food poisoning from beef as cow deaths?

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by wazu

Oh, and if they mean disease carrying insects I think that's cheating. Do they also count people who get food poisoning from beef as cow deaths?

From what I understand [extremely shallow at this point], the problem is vagueness in the WHO dataset.

[LOCOChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

In defense of the Dad, once that gator locks on to his kid, no way was an unarmed man going to get that gator to let go.

Bullshit. A 200 lb dude on a 4-5" gator, the gator abandons his catch. A Nebraska guy might not realize this but if the dad was quick enough to get a hold of it the child could've been retrieved not necessarily saved. Infection from the bite and water is tough too beat.

[ForeverChiefs58]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Yes, hence my last sentence. The beaches at the resorts are pretty small, comparatively. It should be easy to put up a barrier. Just a line of poles with plain old chain-link fencing would do it. You can be guaranteed they'll be installing it now.

I agree with what you're saying too. Unfortunately, gators can actually climb over fencing, chain link and the like. So a fencing that would do the job along with an open season on gators would be nice.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Let the hunters go open season and reduce that number by half.

Why?

[kcpasco]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Why?

Thin them out a bit, unless you guys like that many gators around. I don't live there so I guess that's up to you people in Florida to decide.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by kcpasco

Thin them out a bit, unless you guys like that many gators around. I don't live there so I guess that's up to you people in Florida to decide.

I've never heard any issues from natives.

Nuisance gators are dealt with. No reason to go on a witch hunt now because of one case of negligence.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by LOCOChief

Bullshit. A 200 lb dude on a 4-5" gator, the gator abandons his catch. A Nebraska guy might not realize this but if the dad was quick enough to get a hold of it the child could've been retrieved not necessarily saved. Infection from the bite and water is tough too beat.

Oh please...yeah I'm sure you badasses woulda have whooped the gators ass in pitch black conditions.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Oh please...

That was EXACTLY my reaction.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Why?

Because alligators are an apex predator and we didn't work our way to the top of the food chain for nothin'.

When Floridians universally agree that every single body of fresh water in the state needs to be treated like a potential killing field, it's past time to thin the herd a bit.

They're alligators - they've been on this planet for millions of years. Kill all but 1,000 of them and they'll rebound just fine. Now I'm not advocating that kind of wholesale extermination, but whittling that number by even half wouldn't make so much as a dent in their genetic diversity and ability to thrive long-term.

I simply didn't realize that gators wandering about Florida like deer wander about Missouri was an accepted way of life down there. **** that.

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Why?

This. If stupid people go into a gators habitat and get killed it's their own dumb fault. Gators normally won't take something that is not gonna fit in their mouth. I would say in this instance the gator may have underestimated the size of the child, and was prob somewhat used to be in fed by people. If you respect the gators habitat and be aware of your surroundings you likely won't get attacked. Most stories we get down here are gators eating small dogs that come to close to shore. There's no need to thin them out anymore than thinning out Lions in Africa if they attack someone who goes into their lair.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Because alligators are an apex predator and we didn't work our way to the top of the food chain for nothin'.



When Floridians universally agree that every single body of fresh water in the state needs to be treated like a potential killing field, it's past time to thin the herd a bit.



They're alligators - they've been on this planet for millions of years. Kill all but 1,000 of them and they'll rebound just fine. Now I'm not advocating that kind of wholesale extermination, but whittling that number by even half wouldn't make so much as a dent in their genetic diversity and ability to thrive long-term.



I simply didn't realize that gators wandering about Florida like deer wander about Missouri was an accepted way of life down there. **** that.

Despite millions of humans and gators populating the same areas, it's rarely a problem.

If DaFace's graphic can be believed, gators only kill 1 person per year. You're more likely to be killed by Fido. It's really a non-issue.

[kcpasco]

Well I couldn't live there because I have an 8lb dog that loves the outdoors. LOL