Autistic Boy Rescued After 3 Days in Kentucky Wilderness
A six-year-old autistic boy was found alive in the Kentucky wilderness after three days, aided by trail riders and volunteers.
2 min read
A six-year-old autistic boy who had been missing for three days was found alive in the rugged Kentucky wilderness on Tuesday, thanks to a group of trail riders and volunteers. The boy, Roman Heilman, emerged from the bushes on a horse trail, seemingly unfazed, and called out the vowels of the ‘Old McDonald’ nursery song ‘E-I-E-I-O horsey’ to the search team.
Rescue Efforts in the Mountains
Roman, a non-verbal autistic boy, went missing from his home in Louisa, Kentucky, on Sunday afternoon. Volunteers, including trail riders Jacob Mullins and Patrick Finley, played a crucial role in the search. The team, consisting of about 10 members, rode horses through the woods for over 14 miles before finding Roman approximately a mile and a half from his home.
According to Mullins, the boy was found naked, scratched, and accompanied by a small dog. He had eaten a banana and drank some water before being carried off the mountain. ‘We wrapped him up in a sweatshirt, put him on the horse, and started bringing him off the mountain,’ Mullins said.
Search and Rescue Coordination
The Kentucky State Police issued an IAN Alert, which is used for missing children with autism or mental illness. Hundreds of volunteers, along with drones and aircraft, participated in the search. However, Mullins suggested that the noise from the rescue vehicles may have scared Roman, and the use of horses was key to his eventual emergence.
K9 Search & Rescue Services of West Virginia Inc. was also deployed to the area. While they did not find the boy, they praised the massive effort and credited the community for the successful rescue. ‘Alongside hundreds of first responders and volunteers, we witnessed something today that words simply cannot describe,’ the service said in a statement.
Community and Volunteers
The search involved a wide array of local and regional volunteers, highlighting the strength of community efforts in such critical situations. The boy’s family expressed relief and gratitude for the rescue, emphasizing the importance of continued support for individuals with autism and other special needs.
Source: Breitbart
