A two-year-old boy has been dragged into water by an alligator at a Disney resort in Orlando, authorities said.
The toddler had been playing in the shallows of the Seven Seas Lagoon with his parents and two siblings nearby, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.
"The alligator came up and attacked," Sheriff Demings said.
He said the child's father tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the boy from the alligator's mouth, and was reportedly left with minor injuries on his arms.
The family are on vacation from Nebraska.
Sheriff Demings said the alligator had been described as between four to seven feet long (1.2-2.1 metres), but its precise length was not known.
He said 50 law enforcement officers were at the scene and had been searching the lake for about four hours.
Marine units on boats, a helicopter and sonar equipment were searching the area, while an alligator trap was set and a dive team was on standby.
"We want to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based upon my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead," Sheriff Demings said.
Chad Weber from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they were working with police and "putting every effort forward ... we'll be here with them until there's resolution".
The recent Pulse nightclub shooting also took place in the US state.
"We're doing our best to deal with all the situations that we have going on here, but our staff is very resilient and tonight they're very focused on assisting this family," he said.
A Disney spokeswoman said: "Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident."
"Our thoughts are with the family and helping law enforcement."
The toddler had been playing in the shallows of the Seven Seas Lagoon with his parents and two siblings nearby, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.
"The alligator came up and attacked," Sheriff Demings said.
He said the child's father tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the boy from the alligator's mouth, and was reportedly left with minor injuries on his arms.
The family are on vacation from Nebraska.
Sheriff Demings said the alligator had been described as between four to seven feet long (1.2-2.1 metres), but its precise length was not known.
He said 50 law enforcement officers were at the scene and had been searching the lake for about four hours.
Marine units on boats, a helicopter and sonar equipment were searching the area, while an alligator trap was set and a dive team was on standby.
"We want to hope for the best in these circumstances, but based upon my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead," Sheriff Demings said.
Chad Weber from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they were working with police and "putting every effort forward ... we'll be here with them until there's resolution".
The recent Pulse nightclub shooting also took place in the US state.
"We're doing our best to deal with all the situations that we have going on here, but our staff is very resilient and tonight they're very focused on assisting this family," he said.
A Disney spokeswoman said: "Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident."
"Our thoughts are with the family and helping law enforcement."
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