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.”
Fox 59, describing the video, said:
In footage shared by the New Jersey State Police on Thursday, troopers can be seen running toward the sound of the boy’s cries.
“I got him. He’s up here,” one of the troopers says into his radio upon seeing movement deeper into the wooded area.
Running toward the boy — now screaming — the trooper shouts to get his attention.
“Hey buddy … I got ya! C’mere! You’re OK!”
The sobbing boy runs toward the responding officers, who promptly lift him into their arms. He also tells them several times that he lost his shoes.
“It’s OK, its OK,” one of the troopers responds.
A moment later, a trooper is seen carrying the boy — now calmer — out of the woods in her arms. The boy’s black Labrador follows along at her feet.
Commenting on the video embedded above, people said 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.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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