Parents share photos of children at same Disney beach where toddler taken by alligator

Online criticism directed at toddler Lane Graves' parents has prompted parents to share photos of their children playing at the same Disney beach where the two year old was killed by an alligator.

Alligator attack

Source: Facebook

In response to a tragic alligator attack at a Disney World Resort beach, people have taken to social media to point blame at parents Matthew and Melissa Graves. 

Many Twitter users accuse the parents of being negligent.
The two year old was taken while standing in less than half a metre of water while his parents watched nearby. 

Authorities said the boy's father sustained cuts and minor injuries while trying to wrestle the boy from the alligator's grasp, but was unable to free the child. 

Parents have taken to social media to share photos of their children playing at the same Disney beach to show their support. 

Facebook user Jennifer Venditti shared photos of her son in the same spot just one hour before Lane was taken. 

"It's a tiny beach, surrounded by pools, water slides, a restaurant and a fire pit. I can't conceive that an alligator would be in such a small, busy space," she wrote in a post on Facebook.
Janice Croze shared photos on Facebook from a family visit in 2012, saying, "There were tons of children and adults wading at the water's edge. Never did any of us think there was any danger at all!"

One user commented on Croze's post:  "Disney gave the kids shovels and pails that night!!! They all used the buckets to get water from the water's edge to make sandcastles!"
Disney has "no swimming" signs posted in the area but there are no signs specifically warning people of alligators.

A Disney spokesperson has said the company will "thoroughly review the situation for the future."

The tells guests to "Bask on the white-sand beach" as one of the draw cards for the $569 p/night rooms. 

Orange Country Sheriff Demings said at a press conference that Disney has a wildlife management system and has "worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area".

Sheriff Demings also added that it was unlikely the parents would be charged with negligence following the incident. 

Disney chief executive Bob Iger issued a statement to express his sympathies "as a parent and a grandparent" and said that everyone at the park was devastated by the accident.

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3 min read
Published 17 June 2016 1:16pm
Updated 17 June 2016 2:25pm
By SBS News
Source: SBS

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