Exclusive: Family of 2-Year-Old Killed by Alligator at Disney World Shares Update 10 Years After His Death

The family of Lane Thomas Graves, the 2-year-old boy killed by an alligator at Walt Disney World Resort in 2016, is honoring the 10th anniversary of his death with a tribute to his life and the legacy built in his name. Matt and Melissa Graves will release a nine-minute video on the Lane Thomas Foundation website on June 14, 2026, sharing memories of their son and thanking supporters who have helped sustain the organization over the past decade.

The family gave NBC News correspondent Joe Fryer an exclusive preview of the tribute on TODAY on June 12, 2026. In the video, the Graves family reflects on Lane’s short life and the impact of the foundation they created after his death. The parents said Lane “had a special light” and deeply loved his family, adding that they wanted to honor “our beautiful, blue-eyed boy” at this painful milestone.

Lane died on June 14, 2016, when an alligator grabbed him at the shoreline of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and pulled him into a nearby lagoon. His father tried to rescue him, but Lane’s body was recovered the next day. The tragedy drew national attention and led the family to channel their grief into helping others.

The Lane Thomas Foundation was established to raise awareness about pediatric organ donation and support families facing serious medical crises. According to the family, more than 2,200 children are on the national transplant waiting list. Matt Graves said they made a promise at Lane’s wake to turn their loss into something good for other families. The foundation also provides financial help to parents who need time away from work to care for sick children, covering basic expenses such as rent and car payments.

Over the years, the organization has helped about 200 families. Lane’s presence remains strong in the Graves household in Nebraska, where his siblings, Ella, 14, and Christian, 7, continue to keep his memory alive. Ella, who was 4 when Lane died, recently spoke at a fundraising gala for the foundation, telling supporters that the family will continue helping sick children and has more plans ahead.

The foundation has drawn support from high-profile figures including Tim McGraw, David Foster and Andrea Bocelli. Its logo features a lighthouse symbolizing the light Lane brought to those around him. Disney also honored Lane in 2017 with a lighthouse sculpture near the Seven Seas Lagoon beach. The family said the memorial stands as a beacon of hope for families dealing with despair and as a lasting reminder of their son’s life.