Accident of sorts at Disney in Florida, may be upsetting

[CheerfulYank]

A two year old was dragged into the lagoon by an alligator a few hours ago and hasn't been seen since.

It's so awful I feel like I can't breathe. I cannot imagine how scared he/she was and what the parents are feeling.

Accounts vary but apparently they were sitting on the beach either waiting for fireworks or having movie night. It's just too awful. I'm sure it was supposed to be a wonderful trip and now this.

I know the chances that child will be found alive are almost nothing, but I am hoping against hope that he or she is. I just cannot imagine.

"waded in to about a foot of water" is a reference to the depth.

Demings has also repeatedly been quoted as saying "he was doing what two year olds do...he wasn't doing anything wrong."

No, even if it WAS ten feet, which I wonder as I've only seen that in the DM, it really isn't far. My kids go wading in a shallow river that far away from me all the time. If you look at a spot ten feet from yourself right now this minute... it's pretty close.

I think a child that small, probably struggling and making noise...it was undoubtedly over in minutes. I hope that brings the parents some small comfort in the days to come. I really can't imagine.

I've been to Florida more than once as a kid and know I had no idea about the prevalence of alligators, and know that my parents didn't either. "No swimming" would also have made me think unclean water and not allegators. Poor boy and his poor family.

We have just come back from Disney World, having stayed in a different Disney hotel with the same beach set up where signs say "no swimming". We were totally under the impression that this was due to the qualify of the water and saw many children paddling. I have been to Disney World many times and have never once heard that all the lakes etc were likely to have alligators in them. I was totally shocked. In my experience, every one doesn't know and that could as easily have been my son as I would have done nothing different to them.

God, this is awful. According to Sky news, lifeguards were telling people to get out of the water after it happened. So . . . If lifeguards are there, why aren't they preventing people from going in In the first place?
We went to Queensland years ago, and spent timeon someof the most beautiful beaches I'd ever seen. However, there were signs explicitly warning about crocodiles in no uncertain terms, especially around the 'creeks' which led from the bush to the beach. Consequently I didn't set foot in the sea the whole time. And that wasn't enclosed resorts; it beggars belief that a huge corporation like WDW wouldn't be making warnings more explicut - Christt, even a lifeguard with a loud hailer.

www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/us/alligator-attacks-child-disney-florida/

Sorry meant to say, the link says his body has been found.

"No swimming" would also have made me think unclean water and not alligators.

Would you let your kid paddle in water you thought was unclean, though?

I'm just asking hypothetically, I'm not implying the parents are to blame. It was dark, maybe they didn't see the signs. Unfortunately, the alligator was probably attracting to the splashing.

I don't think many are judging at all. Have you read the entire thread? because most are just discussing an awful event and trying to understand and assimilate it. Your post is aggressive and and unnecessary.

Discussing possible cause & effect
-=- "judging"

Not everyone reacts to sad events in a maudlin manner. Some people cope by problem-solving. Which is no less calif a response than emotional hand wringing.

I haven't seen any judginess on this thread Chips. I'm baffled at your comment, honestly.

Chips,
I can understand where your coming from on your post .
The death of a child is horrendous, no matter where in the world it happens.
Of course this awful tragedy has to be reported in the news
What are they supposed to do , cover it up and pretend it didn't happen?

Yes thanks Chips, I think most of the adult posters here are aware of the fragility of life.

Err Chip what are you on about? ive only seen one or two bizarre "therex more to this" comments and theyve been given thd attention they deserve ie. none.

no one can judge the pardnts in tjis. the sign said no swimming, the little boy wasnt swimming, it should have been more appropriate and in line with thd level of risk. I judge WDW for not making people more aware, even if a sign warning of alligator attacks isnt in keepinv with their fairytale, fluffy, everyones a prince/princess image

What a really nasty post Chips

What a terrible tragedy for this family.

To be honest Chips I was sat here thinking this could have been us. I would have let dd paddle in thag lake, alligators wouldn't have crossed my mind. In disney? In a man made lagoon?

I'm judging wdw for not putting signs up.

thisagain why would people let their children paddle if the water quality was dubious?

My family and I were sat on that stretch of man made beach in the Polynesian resort in 2009 looking at the Floridian hotel we had gone to have a nose and purchase park tickets. We sat on the beach, it had sunloungers and parasols. I can't even remember if there were signs out to say don't swim in the water. But there sure as hell weren't any about the possibility of dangerous wildlife. my kids went right up to the edge of the water and got their toes wet. But they didn't swim in it. If alligators are know to live in it why the hell make the beach accessible and inviting for people. Crocs and gators come out of the water and drag their prey off the beach/riverbanks into the water. Therefore these beaches shouldn't even be open surely?

Well because they're sticking their feet in it not eating it.
kids play I'm mud.

This is one of the man made beaches at dusk imo nothing about that scene screams don't go near the water there is alligators in there it is very very dangerous. It is completely accessible to the residents of the resorts. All the signs apparently say now is don't swim in the water/deep water.

The thing is Disney are always removing the Alligators - but obviously haven't done as good a job as they thought, as there were at least 5 in that lagoon.

But I would say that having come from the UK and probably Europe we are a bit naive as to the dangers out there.
Wildlife in most other places needs to be treated with more respect than we often give it. About 10 years ago a small boy was killed in the Catskills by a bear, which is not exactly remote USA.

But I think the main tone on here is "there but for the grace of God go I...".

The hotel you can see is the Floridian resort where the family were staying.

Chips, I think this thread is the total opposite to be honest. Most posters (me included) have conceded that 'it could have been us'.