Alligator attacks causing death are rare, but they do happen
If such an attack happens in the US, it’s going to happen in Florida. Last night a 2-year-old boy was grabbed and dragged back into the Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World. The child and his father were wading in less than one foot of water just outside Disney’s prestigious Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, when the attack occurred at dusk on Tuesday night. The family was vacationing from Nebraska. And yes, there were visible “No Swimming” signs by the lagoon – so what! That is not good enough, Disney!! What does that mean? It doesn’t mean “don’t go anywhere near the water, large alligators can attack and kill you.” Disney had to know about this – if they didn’t, they should have. This beast is estimated in size to be 4-7 feet long.
How do you avoid an alligator attack?
Move to Michigan and enjoy our freshwater lakes. Aside from that, property owners must do a better job of making visitors aware of the danger. While the risk is low, in Florida you must have an increased awareness of the possibility. Things you can do:
- Don’t go too close to the water’s edge
- Don’t crouch down (you look like prey to gators or crocs)
- Don’t walk your dog next to the water’s edge
- Definitely don’t feed alligators
- If you are attacked, get aggressive – fight back, make noise, hit, kick, and poke its eyes
Disney is responsible for this lack of warning
Disney does many things very well. They provide entertainment. They move people. They make money. But they let this family from Nebraska down in the most tragic way. They didn’t live up to an acceptable duty of care. You can’t put a beach area where children can play in proximity to potentially lethal hazards and not be accountable.
