Statue At Disney World Honors 2-Year-Old Boy Killed By Gator

ORLANDO, FL — A statue resembling a lighthouse erected at Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando pays tribute to Lane Graves, the 2-year-old Nebraska boy who died after being attacked and dragged away by an alligator at the resort last summer.

"In recognition of National Lighthouse Day, please see the lighthouse created to honor our loving boy Lane," the Lane Thomas Foundation wrote on Facebook.

The foundation's mission statement says it is "dedicated to providing financial support for non-medical expenses to families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants at Omaha healthcare facilities." The Lane Thomas Foundation was created by Matt and Melissa Graves, the parents of Lane Graves, in memory of their son. (For more local Orlando news, subscribe to the Orlando Patch.)

Lane Graves was standing with his feet in the water at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon, a man-made lake on the resort property, when the alligator came up and snatched him last summer, officials said at the time. His body was pulled from the water the next day.

"We find comfort that so many people continue to remember our sweet boy, Lane, and we believe the lighthouse stands as a beacon of hope and support for families in the depths of despair,” the Graves family said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel. "We will continue to honor Lane and preserve his spirit through the Lane Thomas Foundation."

Following the attack, Disney’s signage, or lack thereof, came under fire, and shortly afterward, the company announced it was updating its signage. Questions were raised about why "No Swimming" signs posted along the lake did not also include warnings about alligators. WESH 2 News reported only finding one alligator warning sign at the resort complex following the attack. That sign, which read “Do not feed or go near the alligators,” wasn’t posted at the lagoon, the station reported. It was found near a small pond. At least five alligators were pulled from the lagoon since Lane was taken, and officials said they were confident the reptile responsible for the attack had been captured.

Patch editor Sherri Lonon contributed to this report.

Image courtesy Disney