Missing child found safe after extensive search

A five-year-old child reported missing Saturday evening has been found safe after spending about seven hours in a wooded area near his home in Chalk Ridge.

Lewis County 911 dispatchers were notified by Dalton Brown that his son, Dwayne, was last seen near their home around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Judge Executive George Sparks said first responders from across Lewis County were quickly notified and traveled to the area where an organized search was conducted.

Sparks said additional resources were requested from Buffalo Trace Search and Rescue, the Little Sandy Correctional Complex search team and first responders from surrounding counties who sent additional volunteers, dogs and equipment to conduct nightly search of the area for the youngster.

Family members, search crews, first responders and community members were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief at 3:46 a.m. Sunday when Tollesboro Fire Chief Lee Thomas radioed dispatch that the youth had been located by a bloodhound with the Little The search team from the Sandy Correctional Complex was being brought out of the woods.

The youth reportedly said he followed a rabbit into the woods and got lost.

He was taken to hospital for evaluation after rescuers took him home. Sparks said he only appeared to have a few scrapes and cuts on his legs from the ordeal.

Tollesboro Fire Chief Lee Thomas said he would like to thank everyone who came out to help with the search.

“Thank you to Mason, Boyd, Carter and Montgomery counties for getting your drones out,” Thomas said early Sunday.

“Thank you to the surrounding fire departments, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and all search and rescue teams,” he added. “And a big thank you to the folks at Little Sandy Correctional Complex and their bloodhound, Ranger.”

“We are grateful to our first responders and community members, and especially to the volunteers and search teams from other areas who joined our local staff in a successful unified search for this young man,” said Sparks said.

He said about 125 volunteers had registered for the research and about 20 others had not registered.

“Dr. Greg Taylor (of Buffalo Trace Search and Rescue) has been a great resource for us,” Sparks said. “He went out and then went home to print search cards and came back. The research was carried out in very rugged terrain.

“We are fortunate to have so many knowledgeable and caring people who are willing to come together in these situations. And there is no doubt that the prayers were answered,” Sparks added. “It was a very stressful evening but with an incredible turnout. »