Two children from Mississippi got lost in the woods near their house as the sun started to set. The kids thought they were heading home, but the low visibility meant they were actually heading deeper into the forest.
The Pearl Police Department shared information about the youngster’s ordeal on Facebook yesterday. A news release reveals that the children were eight and ten years old. They got lost in the sticks, surrounded by miles of dense woodland. “What followed was a swift and coordinated response that showcased the strength of inter-agency cooperation and the heart of our community,” the post reads.
Chief of Police Nick McLendon explains that rescue teams found the children deep in the woods following an extensive overnight search. He also thanked the many volunteers who assisted in the search efforts.
Per WAPT, McLendon explained that the children went missing between 5 PM and 8 PM, prompting a swift search effort. Authorities assembled a “mobile command center” in Jenkins Park as teams combed the area.
A Heat-Seeking Drone Spotted The Kids Lying Down In The Forest
WAPT explains that heat-seeking drones found the kids lying down on the forest floor. Authorities eventually reached them unharmed. In an interview with People, McLendon explained that the kids were missing near Cato Circle in Pearl. Dense woods surround the residential area.
Before they went missing, the family noted that the children were playing in a ditch near the tree line. “It started getting dark, and they thought they were walking home, but they were walking deeper in the woods,” McLendon told the outlet. “Next thing they know, it’s totally pitch black dark and they’re in the woods lost.”
Authorities reportedly used a K9 unit to scale down the size of the search area. Once the dogs lost the children’s scent, officers took to the skies with drones, which spotted their target at around 1:15 AM. The police chief told People, “They just got lost in the woods, got turned around. The boys told officials that when it got dark and they were still lost, they decided to sleep there and wait for the sun to come up.”
In an interview with WAPT, McLendon said, “We still encourage kids to get out and play and get off the devices. But when it gets time, dark, y’know, you might want to start heading home.”