The lost boy and his relieved mother seem to be enjoying their helicopter ride out of the Sierras to a hospital in Fresno. Photo courtesy CHP
The California Highway Patrol is celebrating a minor miracle after a little boy, lost overnight in the Sierras, was found safe and sound and returned to his overjoyed parents.
In a news release dated Aug. 12 and recapping the Top-5 stories of the week, the CHP recounted the tale of the lost boy: “It’s an absolute miracle! On the morning of Aug. 4,” reads the story, Helicopter-42, “received a call to assist the Madera County Sheriff’s Department with the search for a 5-year-old boy. The boy had been missing since 5 p.m. the prior day from the Mammoth Pool Reservoir Campground, when the child wandered off while his family was preparing dinner.”
An all-out, massive search effort had been launched to comb the woods looking for the boy, who spent a cold night, alone in the spooky woods.
“At approximately 8 a.m.,” the report reads, “the next morning, after being alone for approximately 15 hours [and through the night], the child was located not far from the campground.”
The helicopter, with a paramedic onboard, landed and the boy was given medical aid. They then flew him and his mother to Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno, “due to him not drinking water since the day prior and exposure. The child was evaluated by medical professionals and released from the hospital the same day.”
As one might expect, posts on the family’s Instagram account were filled with relief, gratitude and praise for the lad’s rescuers; including his parents, whose handle is bretandjulie: “He did so great, he was very chilled, which I wondered if it was shock. He’s slowly returning to himself today though we will need to take time to process all of it!”
The lad appeared to come through the ordeal unscathed and given he is so young may not long remember his night lost in the woods, however, we doubt his mom and dad will ever forget it.
