Deputies: Child dragged into water by gator near Disney's Grand Floridian

[OriZ 3,157]

Boy, Orlando just ain't havin a very good week is it

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

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the child was, "wading just in the water along the lake's edge at the time that the alligator attacked."

CNN asked Williamson for clarification and he reiterated that the boy was wading in less than a foot of water.

Looks like another case of irresponsible parents.

There are "No Swimming" signs at the lagoon, and no one else was in the water at the time of the attack besides the child, Demings said.

This body of water is not for recreational swimming.

"This is Florida, and it's not uncommon for alligators to be in bodies of water," he said.

Declan Salcido, who's on vacation with relatives from San Jose, California, was coming back from Disney's Animal Kingdom when the first ambulance arrived.

He said multiple "No Swimming" signs near the lagoon are visible "from any vantage point."

Maybe they should change the "no swimming" signs posted there to "no getting anywhere near the friggin' water - this is Florida and we do have alligators - duh".

Edited June 15, 2016 by OriZ

[Ontarkie 14,275]

I look at this as the resort failing their customers. Yes Florida has gators, but as someone who has never been there I would not have thought it was right at the resort. (Note I never even looked a map to see where the resort is.)

I know of a few ppl who couples who were on that beach at night watching the fireworks with their kids. That was just a few years ago and last year for another who had wedding pictures taken right next to the water. All of them said if they knew it was that dangerous they would never have sat on the beach and watch the kids play or even on the beach. They had no idea what the do not swim signs were for.

People do not think about gators the way locals do, I see my friends in Florida post pictures of gators and think wow I'm not going to where you live. Then to find out it's everywhere!

This is so sad and that poor baby

[OriZ 3,157]

I look at this as the resort failing their customers. Yes Florida has gators, but as someone who has never been there I would not have thought it was right at the resort. (Note I never even looked a map to see where the resort is.)

I know of a few ppl who couples who were on that beach at night watching the fireworks with their kids. That was just a few years ago and last year for another who had wedding pictures taken right next to the water. All of them said if they knew it was that dangerous they would never have sat on the beach and watch the kids play or even on the beach. They had no idea what the do not swim signs were for.

People do not think about gators the way locals do, I see my friends in Florida post pictures of gators and think wow I'm not going to where you live. Then to find out it's everywhere!

This is so sad and that poor baby

I see both parties as responsible. The parents should not have let their kids play where there are no swimming signs, even if they are not technically swimming. Even if it's less than a foot of water, no swimming should alert every parent to not let their child by the water. However, like I said the signs should probably be changed, and make it more obvious as to the reasons. Maybe even "danger - alligators", or "getting in the water is prohibited" or something like that. And I'm sure there will still be those who will ignore these signs as well.

Yes, very sad story. Always terrible when something like this happens when all you want is to have a good time on vacation.

[Ontarkie 14,275]

I see both parties as responsible. The parents should not have let their kids play where there are no swimming signs, even if they are not technically swimming. Even if it's less than a foot of water, no swimming should alert every parent to not let their child by the water. However, like I said the signs should probably be changed, and make it more obvious as to the reasons. Maybe even "danger - alligators", or "getting in the water is prohibited" or something like that. And I'm sure there will still be those who will ignore these signs as well.

Yes, very sad story. Always terrible when something like this happens when all you want is to have a good time on vacation.

Yes a no swimming sign would make me wonder why and not let my kids in the water, but if I saw a sign that said gators I wouldn't even be on that beach.

[TBoneTX 45,498]

That's terrible about the small child. What an awful end.

---

In hopes of lightening the moment, and pursuant also to the recent gorilla story:

A Harley biker is riding by the zoo in Washington, DC, when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the collar of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, right in front of her screaming parents.

The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage, and hits the lion flush on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back, letting go of the girl, and the biker brings the girl to her terrified parents, who thank him incessantly.

A reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter, addressing the Harley rider, says, "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing that I've seen a man do in my whole life."

The Harley rider replies, "Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I thought was right."

The reporter says, "Well, I'll make sure that this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living?"
The biker says, "I'm a U.S. Marine." The journalist leaves.
The next morning, the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and he reads on the front page:
“U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH."

[OriZ 3,157]

That's terrible about the small child. What an awful end.

---

In hopes of lightening the moment, and pursuant also to the recent gorilla story:

A Harley biker is riding by the zoo in Washington, DC, when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the collar of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, right in front of her screaming parents.

The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage, and hits the lion flush on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain, the lion jumps back, letting go of the girl, and the biker brings the girl to her terrified parents, who thank him incessantly.

A reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter, addressing the Harley rider, says, "Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing that I've seen a man do in my whole life."

The Harley rider replies, "Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I thought was right."

The reporter says, "Well, I'll make sure that this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living?"

The biker says, "I'm a U.S. Marine." The journalist leaves.

The next morning, the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and he reads on the front page:

“U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH."

lol sounds like something the media would do.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

lol sounds like something the media would do.

Sounds like something a few of ourhit the head posters might do

[yuna628 9,680]

There's this estate in SC.. big thing.. gardens, museum.. basically backs up to a swamp and there's tons of ponds and wooded walking trails. They made pretty clear that there are wild alligators that may roam the estate at any time and that you should not get close to any of the ponds. Then there are the snakes and 'Cow Killer' ants. If the warnings about the alligators weren't worse enough, we considered hiking the trail. At the entrance there was this small sign so we took a closer look.. it literally said that the woods were full of alligators, poisonous snakes, and insects - enter at your own risk but stay on the path. Since he'd already tussled with one of those ants that day he wasn't about to contend with more.. We turned around so fast lol..

If there is clear signage posted Disney isn't responsible for this. Alligators and snakes are everywhere down south... I remember one time my grandmother telling me that an alligator had waddled into her camper in Florida one year. People need to respect nature and pay attention to what their kids are doing.

[Umka36 781]

Having a no swimming vs. alligator warning sign is very different in my opinion. The later would guaranteed I don't go in the water or near the beach for that matter.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If there is clear signage posted Disney isn't responsible for this. Alligators and snakes are everywhere down south... I remember one time my grandmother telling me that an alligator had waddled into her camper in Florida one year. People need to respect nature and pay attention to what their kids are doing.

There wasn't clear signage. it said "no swimming." The baby was not swimming, he was wading.

They should have said "dangerous water: alligators present" or something more effective. But it's Disney, so nothing is scary there.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Having a no swimming vs. alligator warning sign is very different in my opinion. The later would guaranteed I don't go in the water or near the beach for that matter.

Tottaly agree. Someone is going to get paid