A 4-year-old boy was found by the Border Patrol after he spent over 24 hours in a southern Arizona desert while wandering 5.5 miles from his home, according to officials.
The boy, whose name was not released, was playing with his dog in front of his house in the Tohono O’odham Nation near Sells, Arizona, on Dec. 17 before his family noticed he had disappeared at 10 a.m. He was reported missing by 11:45 a.m., the FBI said in a statement Thursday.
Tohono O’odham Police, Customs and Border Protection's Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue, and the FBI pooled together to search for the child.
"Time was of the essence as the boy could quickly succumb to hypothermia based on the time of year and weather conditions. There was also an added danger of the boy falling victim to wildlife as the Sonoran Desert is known for javelina, coyotes, and mountain lions," the FBI said. "Despite relentless searching by air and foot throughout the night and into the next day, officers and agents still had not located him."
"Hope returned on Saturday, December 18, just after 12:00 p.m., when a helicopter from CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) spotted the boy waving for them," the FBI said. "He was just 200 yards ahead of the officers on the ground. BORSTAR agents on the ground were able to provide basic first aid and blankets, and the boy was taken to the hospital for evaluation. After surviving a cold night in the desert, the boy was deemed healthy and placed back with his family."
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"During the search, it was discovered the boy had walked in large circles and was found approximately 5.5 miles from his home," the FBI said. "[He] walked an estimated 12 to 15 miles throughout the 24-hour period."
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"The boy’s dog appeared to be with him for most of the time and returned to the house Saturday, shortly after 4:00 a.m.," the FBI added.
More than 30 officers and agents assisted in the search.