The father of Lane Graves, the 2-year-old who was dragged to his death by a gator at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Florida, told authorities he was bit by a second gator while trying to save his son.
The information was released via a public records request made by the Orlando Sentinel. The records included conversations Reedy Creek Fire Capt. Tom Wellons had with Matt Graves the morning after his son aas snatched by the gator.
Matt Graves had visible lacerations and was urged by Wellons to seek treatment, but Graves refused to leave the lagoon area. After finally convincing him to, Wellons was told by Lane’s father on the way to the hospital “the horror that he experienced” as his son was snatched away and “how another gator attacked him as he fought for his son.”
Orange County officials were then notified a second gator could be involved. Six gators were cleared from the area during the post-incident sweep, and officials were confident that they captured the beast responsible for Lane’s death. There’s been no word yet if the gator that attacked Matt Graves was also among the six.
The boy’s body was recovered intact the day after his disappearance. He was buried in his home state of Nebraska one week later.
Since the attack, Disney has installed signs at its resort beach locations warning of the presence of alligators and snakes.