The parents of the 2-year-old toddler who was killed by an alligator at a Disney World resort says they won’t sue the theme-park company.
- Family will create foundation in their son’s name
- Family appreciates support from public
In addition, Matt and Melissa Graves will create the Lane Thomas Foundation, where donations will be given to charitable organizations, according to the foundation's website and the Nebraska family through a press release issued Wednesday.
“Melissa and I are broken. We will forever struggle to comprehend why this happened to our sweet baby, Lane. As each day passes, the pain gets worse, but we truly appreciate the outpouring of sympathy and warm sentiments we have received from around the world. We know that we can never have Lane back, and therefore, we intend to keep his spirit alive through the Lane Thomas Foundation. It is our hope that through the foundation we will be able to share with others the unimaginable love Lane etched in our hearts. In addition to the foundation, we will solely be focused on the future health of our family and will not be pursuing a lawsuit against Disney. For now, we continue to ask for privacy as we focus on our family,” the press release stated.
The attack last month at the Disney World’s Grand Floridian and the toddler was at the edge of the water of the beach on Seven Seas Lagoon when the alligator grabbed him, according to Jeff Williamson of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Williamson said Matt Graves tried to save his young son, but was unsuccessful. The elder Graves suffered cuts to his arms from struggling with the reptile. Several witnesses saw the gator drag the boy under the water, Orange County Sheriff Jerry said.
In an email that was made public earlier this month, Reedy Creek Emergency Services EMS Capt. Tom Wellons told his superiors that Matt Graves told him that a second alligator attacked him as he tried to rescue his son, Lane, from a gator that had the child.