We are sad to report that two-year-old Lane Graves, has died after being dragged into Walt Disney World’s lagoon by an alligator on Tuesday.
“There is no doubt in my mind the child was drowned by the alligator,” Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said during a live press conference.
Around 1:45am local time, the Sheriff confirmed that members of the diving team had discovered the boy’s body “intact”.
He said: "At about 1.45am members of the Orange County Sheriff Department dive team located what is believed the remains of the deceased two-year-old.”
Five alligators have been killed in the search for Lane, and Demings said authorities will now look to identify the reptile that drowned the boy.
He added: “The family says they do appreciate all of the prayers that have gone forward to allow those of us who are working on the professional side to do our jobs to recover their son.
“They move forward at this time for a proper burial.”
The family was enjoying “Movie Night” at the Grand Floridian Resort amongst others when the tragedy unfolded.
Report from 14 June
According to multiple reports, the little boy had been wading in shallow water alongside his parents at the Seven Seas Lagoon, which is based near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
At around 9.20pm ET on Tuesday, an alligator launched out of the water and snatched the child.
His father and mother both waded into the lagoon in a desperate bid to wrestle their son back, but, tragically, their efforts came to no avail.
Orange County sheriff, Jerry Demings, told reporters: “There is a sandy beach area and the family was out simply relaxing... and in the water along the lake’s edge at the time the alligator attacked the child.
“The father entered the water and tried to grab the child and was not successful in doing so. At some point I am told the mother may also have entered the water.
“The parents diligently tried to get the child.”
A search party has been tirelessly working around the clock, combing the waters in a bid to find the two-year-old.
However, as of this point, he is still missing.
Police have reassured the press that the search will continue until the toddler is found.
“As a father, as a grandfather, I’m going to hope for the best in these circumstances,” said Denings.
“But based upon my 35 years of law enforcement experience we know that we have some challenges ahead of ourselves at this time.”
Despite this, he added that he remains “very hopeful” the boy will be found alive.
A spokeswoman for Walt Disney, meanwhile, has given a short statement to the press on behalf of the resort.
She said: “Our thoughts are with the family, and we are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement.”
She added that they are “devastated” by the “tragic accident”.
We will bring you more on this story as it develops.