Incredible footage was released by the New Jersey State Police on Twitter on March 30. The amazing, powerful footage shows the moment when New Jersey State Troopers found a four-year-old boy and his dog in the woods. Both had been missing for over an hour.
The search began when New Jersey state troopers received and responded to a missing child report in the Buena Vista Township on March 29th. Apparently, a four-year-old boy had wandered away from home alongside his black Labrador and couldn’t be found.
So, the police responded and their preliminary search for the young boy turned up nothing. However, a resident in the area told the police that a child was crying for help in the woods, at which point officers started racing through the forest to try and find the boy.
That is the moment captured on footage: Trooper Ian Emmi’s body camera shows him rushing through the woods to rescue the young boy, saying “I’ve got him back here!” and “I got ya, come here, you’re ok.”
The young boy, after being rescued and comforted by the trooper, said that he lost his shoe. The Labrador, which apparently never left the boy’s side, looked on while staying nearby.
Watch that dramatic moment here:
Troopers Rescue Missing Child in the Woods
Last night, troopers from Buena Vista Station responded to the report of a missing child in Buena Vista Twp., Atlantic County.A 4-year-old boy and his black Labrador had wandered away from his house.
Check out the rescue. pic.twitter.com/wUMrWYzuYQ
— NJSP – State Police (@NJSP) March 30, 2023
Speaking about the rescue in a statement, the New Jersey State Police said, “We are thankful to report that due to the quick response of the troopers and his mother, the terrified child was safely located and in good health.”
Commenting on the video, people praised the police for rescuing the boy so quickly and the black lab for sticking by his side, saying things like:
“Poor baby only worried about losing his shoes…I want to mail him some cool new shoes and his dog some treats for protecting him…Great job to those who found him…”
“Absolutely wonderful. Great work from some of NJs finest!”
“What a great dog…stayed by this boys side the whole time…dogs are better than people in so many ways. So glad this had a happy ending and we’ll never know how that dog protected that little boy.”
“Somebody needs to tell that dog he was a good boy. He stayed with that kid.”
“great job with finding the kid for sure, but the unsung hero is the dog. his one mission was to stick with his brother.🐶💭 “if he’s lost, im gonna be lost with him and protect him”
“Excellent job! As a parent I was the excessive one, who used reigns and had hand holding rules. I woke one night to find my child missing from the bed, he was downstairs under the stairs,the momentary terror I felt, my heart nearly stopped beating. You are brilliant humans!”
“Poor baby, hearing him crying broke my heart! Thank you to our law enforcement officers!!”
“Beyond heartwarming ❤️ Heartfelt thanks to all those who searched. Poor little guy worried about his shoes. I sure would love to send him new ones and something for his dog. ❤️”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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