Toddler's father says two gators involved in Disney attack
The father of a 2-year-old boy killed in an alligator attack near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando told an official that a second gator was involved in the attack.
The Orlando Sentinel, citing public records released last week, reported late Saturday that Capt. Tom Wellons of the Reedy Creek Fire Department told two supervisors about the revelation — it came during an interaction with the child's father, Matt Graves, the morning after Lane Graves went missing.
Wellons said he told Graves he needed stitches and antibiotics, since he had lacerations from a gator's teeth, the Sentinel reported. Wellons said that on the way to the hospital, Graves shared "the horror that he experienced" as his son was being pulled into the water, and "how another gator attacked him as he fought for his son."
Assistant Chief Stan Paynter forwarded the e-mail to Orange County officials to alert them that there may be a second alligator.
Altogether, five alligators were killed in the 16-hour search for Lane, the Sentinel reported. His body was discovered intact about 15 yards from the shore, six feet underwater.
Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Angelo Nieves said that during initial interviews, a witness also said "he saw a second gator attack the father" as he was fighting with the first one that had his son.
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