Lost 2-Year-Old Rescued by Teen's Last-Minute Decision

[Liberal_in_LA]

Lost 2-Year-Old Rescued by Teen's Last-Minute Decision

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Vetort was headed to class at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College when, for some reason, he decided to go for a last-minute run at J.W. Wells State Park (where, by the way, he's a part-time ranger currently on layoff).

He took off down a muddy, obscure trail rarely traveled by joggers or hikers, which makes the next thing that happened all the more incredible:

As Vetort ran alongside the trees separating the trail from the highway, he was shocked to see a 2-year-old boy sitting on the damp leaves and grass.

"I almost ran right up on him, then I heard him crying," says Vetort. "He wanted me to pick him up ... he was crying, 'Mommy.'"

Poor little guy! Apparently the toddler wandered almost a mile away from his home, where his mother and several other people were desperately searching the front yard for some sign of him. Police returned the boy to his mother after Vetort carried him over a mile to the park rangers' station. No one is sure yet how long he was lost in the woods, but the child was fully clothed and wearing his boots and a hat (his mother suspects he lost his coat in the forest somewhere; I believe it, knowing how much 2-year-olds love wearing coats).

http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/128287/lost_2yearold_rescued_by_teens

[Poll_Blind]

1. Heart-stopping! Man, that's how life is. I'm grateful for the good luck that day.

Wow, what a parents' nightmare.

PB

[truedelphi]

2. Great story. Kudos to the young man, kudos for the kid

Being lucky enough to decide to cry in the middle of the path. (probably the kid didn't decide anything, but glad he's a lucky little tot.)

And I can only imagine how the parents were feeling.

[redqueen]

3. Wow, they're very lucky. (nt)

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. yes: More details - area frequented by Coyotes, wolves, bobcats, bears, cougars!

The sobbing child held out his arms, repeatedly saying, "Mama, mama." .Vetort picked up him up and carried him about 1.5 miles to an office at J.W. Wells State Park.

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The child needed no medical treatment. But Marks said he'd been in a dangerous situation. Few people visit the park this time of year; not a single camper was registered Wednesday. Rangers don't regularly patrol where the toddler turned up. Temperatures were in the mid-40s and rain had fallen that morning. The child wore a hat and boots but no coat.

Coyotes, wolves, bobcats and bears wander the forests and pastures of the central Upper Peninsula. Cougars occasionally are spotted. The child was less than a quarter-mile from the Lake Michigan shore.

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/runner_finds_2-year-old_boy_in.html

[Worried senior]

5. This happened

not too far from where we live. It is a very wild, uninhabited area so he might have been lost for a long time.

I guess this is being investigated.