• U.S.
  • Florida

Autopsy: Toddler Attacked by Alligator Died of ‘Drowning and Traumatic Injuries’

1 minute read

The toddler attacked by an alligator at a Disney resort in Orlando on Tuesday died as a result of “drowning and traumatic injuries,” according to the official autopsy report.

The Orange County Medical Examiner released the autopsy results of two-year-old Lane Graves on Thursday via Twitter.

Graves was playing in shallow water in the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa when he was grabbed by an alligator and pulled underwater. The boy’s father, Matt, desperately tried to save him from the animal but failed, suffering lacerations on his hands.

A 16-hour search concluded Wednesday afternoon when authority recovered the boy’s body fully intact.

“Words cannot describe the shock and grief our family is experiencing over the loss of our son,” the family said in a statement to ABC News. “We are devastated and ask for privacy during this extremely difficult time. To all of the local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly these past 24 hours, we express our deepest gratitude.”

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com