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Boy Who Fell Into Gorilla Pit ‘Doing Fine’

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CINCINNATI (AP) — The family of a boy who survived a 15-foot fall into a gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo says he is home and doing fine.

The family released a statement Sunday thanking the zoo staff for their quick response.

A special animal response team shot and killed a 17-year-old gorilla that grabbed the boy Saturday afternoon. The team believed the 4-year-old’s life was in danger.

The boy and his family haven’t been identified and are asking for privacy. A family spokeswoman says they are from the Cincinnati area.

The family says they know that it was a difficult decision for the zoo to shoot the gorilla.

Witness Kim O’Connor told WLWT-TV that she heard the boy say he wanted to get in the water with the gorillas.