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Terrified British family ‘chased by alligator’ at same Disney beach resort just weeks before beast took toddler

'It was directly in front of us, around 40 feet away. It lurched out of the water and we had to run'

A British family has told of their fear after an alligator chased at the same Disney Resort were a toddler was attacked.

The Davies family, from Liverpool, were sitting on the beach at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort in April with their children before the Magic Kingdom's fireworks display.

The beach area of the Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian resort hotel
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The beach area of the Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian resort hotelCredit: Getty Images

Their eight-year-old daughter heard a noise and moments later an alligator lurched out of the lagoon in front of them.

Terrified, Carl, 34, and Karen, 37 fled the beach with their children.

Luckily they all escaped unharmed, but their daughter, eight, was too scared to return to the beach for the remainder of their holiday.

, Carl said: ""My wife, our two children and I were sitting on the edge of the beach on the walkway kerb to watch the show. My daughter said, 'What's that noise? there's something in the water'

Florida Fish and Wildlife searched the lagoon for the two-year-old
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Florida Fish and Wildlife searched the lagoon for the two-year-oldCredit: Caters News Agency

"The next thing a Canadian family sitting a little way up ran over and shouted, 'Alligator!'.

"It was directly in front of us, around 40 feet away. It lurched out of the water and we had to run. It was pitch black with no lighting on the actual beach section.

"Our daughter was screaming, she was petrified."

"She wouldn't step foot on the beach again," he added.

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Hotel at Disney World in Orlando has seen a number of alligators in recent months
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Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Hotel at Disney World in Orlando has seen a number of alligators in recent months

"We decided to call it a night given that it was unsafe," he said. "The Canadians caught a security man on a golf cart and told him about the incident. Then we left for our villa."

Incredibly, the family spotted another smaller alligator a few days later on a golf course.

Carl hopes that sharing his story will warn other British families of the danger.

A toddler, Lane Graves, was attacked on the shore of the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa yesterday.

The boy's family were at a outdoor movie night when the boy waded into the lagoon, authorities said.

The beast lunged at the two-year-old boy and grabbed him into the water.

Witnesses, including the boy's horrified parents got into the water in a bid to rescue the tot.

Unfortunately the boy's body was recovered on Wednesday afternoon.

Rescue boats, tents and police vehicles are seen along the shoreline at the Grand Floridian
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Rescue boats, tents and police vehicles are seen along the shoreline at the Grand FloridianCredit: Reuters

A spokesman for Walt Disney Company said resort employees are 'devastated' by the tragedy.

At a press conference he said: "Everyone here at Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident.

"Our thoughts are with the family and we are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist them."

It has been a tragic week for the Orlando area. A gunman shot and killed 49 people early Sunday at an Orlando gay club.

The previous day a man shot singer Christina Grimmie as she was signing autographs following a concert.



Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.


 

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