Florida authorities have released the 911 call from the June 14 alligator attack at a Walt Disney World resort that left 2-year-old Lane Graves dead. The call was released on Friday, June 17.
In the phone call, which was obtained by TMZ, an unidentified caller reports a drowning to the emergency dispatcher shortly after Lane was snatched into the lagoon by the gator.
“Please come to the Grand Floridian please,” the woman pleads. “Someone drowned in the Seven Seas Lagoon Lake.”
The operator has trouble hearing the caller and asks a series of questions, “They’re at the pool? In the lake? You said they drowned there?”
The woman frantically responds, “Someone drowned there. I just stayed in the pool. Please come to the Grand Floridian.”
According to ABC News, a call was also placed from a lifeguard stand in the area, but the only voice present was that of a 911 operator with no answer on the other end.
“The lifeguard stand is designed that when the lifeguard leaves the post for a rescue, the call automatically engages 911 for immediate help alerting authorities to the exact lifeguard stand location,” Reedy Creek Fire Department spokesman Bo Jones told the news outlet.
As previously reported, the 2-year-old Nebraska boy was playing in the shallows of the lagoon on Tuesday night around 9 p.m. ET when he was grabbed by an alligator. After hours of searching, local officials found Lane’s body fully intact. According to an autopsy, the toddler died from drowning and traumatic injuries.
On Saturday, June 18, the boy’s parents, Matt and Melissa Graves released a statement to say they’re overwhelmed by the support since the tragic death of their son.
“Melissa and I continue to deal with the loss of our beloved boy, Lane, and are overwhelmed with the support and love we have received from family and friends in our community as well as from around the country,” the couple wrote. “We understand the public’s interest, but as we move forward this weekend, we ask for and appreciate the privacy we need to lay our son to rest. Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly; we simply cannot at this time.”
A wake will be held for Lane at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in the family’s hometown of Elkhorn, Nebraska, at 3 p.m. CT on Monday, June 20. A funeral will be held at the same church at 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday, June 21.
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