Alligator drags boy into water near Orlando Disney resort

Florida police are searching for a two-year-old boy who was dragged into water by an alligator near a Disney resort.

The boy was on the shoreline of the Seven Seas Lagoon by the Disney Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando when he was dragged away late on Tuesday, officials said.

The boy's father entered the water and tried in vain to grab him from the alligator, Sheriff Jerry Demings said.

Fifty police and wildlife experts were searching for the boy, he said.

The family with three children from the state of Nebraska were relaxing near the shore of the lagoon when the incident happened at 21:16 local time (01:16 GMT), the sheriff said.

The Grand Floridian is a luxury resort owned by Disney and is located near Disney's Magic Kingdom Park.

A Disney spokeswoman said the company was "devastated" by the incident.