Horror as 7ft alligator drags boy, 2, off in its jaws at Disney World in front of parents

Florida authorities say a 2-year-old boy was dragged by a massive alligator into a lagoon on the shores of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Tuesday night

The boy and his mom were wading at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon when the 7ft creature emerged from the water and dragged him in.

The boy's father dived into the lake and wrestled the gator in a desperate bid to rescue his son but he was not successful in doing so.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a press conference: Rescue personnel had been actively looking for the child in the Seven Seas Lagoon for hours in a search and recovery effort but had not found him.

They hoped to find him before daylight, he said. A dive team with sonar equipment was on standby -- just part of a 50-person rescue team on the scene.

"As a father, as a grandfather, we're going to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us," Demings said. Demings said the Nebraska family of five was relaxing on the shoreline when the alligator attacked the boy.

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is an upscale luxury resort owned by Disney.

It is one of three hotels on the monorail line, just one stop away from the Magic Kingdom Park.

Alligators live across Florida and are a "fundamental part" of its wetlands, swamps, rivers and lakes, state wildlife officials say.

22 people have been killed by alligators in Florida since 1948.

A Disney spokesman said: "Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident.

"Our thoughts are with the family.

"We are doing everything we can to help the family and assist the law enforcement."