Helicopter

[MarkBarbieri]

In case anyone was wondering why there was a search helicopter buzzing over the campground a few nights ago, here's what I know about it. A little after midnight, I was woken up by the sound of a helicopter in the area. I expected that it was a LifeFlight helicopter and would quickly be gone. It wasn't. It kept circling around and it's search light all over our loop (2000 - tents).

I got up and looked outside our tent. The area was crawling with police. There must have been at least a dozen. They had flashlights and were searching the swamp, the bushes, and every place they could think of. I went over to the comfort station and overheard someone saying that a 4 year old was missing. He went to the bathroom and didn't return.

Moments later, one of the officers searched an apparently empty tent near the comfort station and found the boy. It appears that he was rather tired and went home to the wrong tent and just fell asleep. All's well that ends well, but it must have been a scary time for the parents, especially with all the swampy areas from the rain.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

OMG !! Thats the worst feeling a parent could endure !! SOOO GLAD they found him !!


Not meaning to jump to conclusions here,,but where the hell were the parents ?!?!?!
I mean he was 4 years old !

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Yeah, if my 4 year old had to go in the middle of the night, there would be a responsible adult with him.

Wouldn't that have been a hoot to wake up in your tent and find somebody else's kid sleeping in there with you? With my out laws, they had so many kids it would probably be a good 5 days before they realized there was an extra one.

 

[DisneyBishops]

Even though the fort is fairly safe. Who in the heck lets a 4yo go anywhere by themselves.

Takes all kind

 

[MommaluvsDis]

One year at our family reunion, which is 3 days long, one of my little 3 YO cousins got up during the middle of the night, walked the path to the kitchen, got herself a snack, went to the bathroom and was headed back to the dorm when one of the other cousins found her. Things happen. I'm sure they didn't let the child go off alone.

 

[mum24grlz]

Last week I was at the fort and saw a family frantically searching for their small daughter - during the day. They had people yelling and hollering for the child, checking the canals, the bathrooms, etc. She was located but geesh I can't even imagine losing my child at the Fort while camping.

 

[mrsscooter]

At least the child was found, and was safe. I know the parents are probably beating themselves up for their child being missing. As the parents of two children, we always had that fear of our kids "escaping" in the middle of the night when we would tent camp, so what we did was always set up the kids bed all the way in at the tent and our bed was closest to the door with all of our geat at the end so that they couldnt get by or out with out climbing over us or making a racket trying to get by the gear pile. It works........trust me...being woken up to a child jumping on your stomach or hearing the crash of pots and pans at 3am is alarming for anyone, even your closest neighbors!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm pretty sure that was the original reason for inventing duct tape. Just tape the little rascals up at bed time, and cut 'em loose in the morning.

 

[FIREKYMMIE]

My mom loves telling about the time i got "lost " in River Country. I was 8 and my oldest brother was 12 and he went on the big slides but i wasn't allowed ..... I was almost there before being captured by the lifeguards....lol..

 

[chinsmom1997]

In case anyone was wondering why there was a search helicopter buzzing over the campground a few nights ago, here's what I know about it. A little after midnight, I was woken up by the sound of a helicopter in the area. I expected that it was a LifeFlight helicopter and would quickly be gone. It wasn't. It kept circling around and it's search light all over our loop (2000 - tents).

I got up and looked outside our tent. The area was crawling with police. There must have been at least a dozen. They had flashlights and were searching the swamp, the bushes, and every place they could think of. I went over to the comfort station and overheard someone saying that a 4 year old was missing. He went to the bathroom and didn't return.

Moments later, one of the officers searched an apparently empty tent near the comfort station and found the boy. It appears that he was rather tired and went home to the wrong tent and just fell asleep. All's well that ends well, but it must have been a scary time for the parents, especially with all the swampy areas from the rain.

I was at the Fort during this, and was up all night with the noise as well. I am glad they found the child, but can not imagine letting my child go to the bathrooms by themselves. Even during the day they don't go to the bathrooms by themselves.
Sheri

 

[BradyBz12]

Note to self.... if tent camping with young kids, buy zipper locks to use on the INSIDE!

Thanks goodness he was found safe!

 

[SandrA9810]

Well you gotta remember that kids don't pay attention to different surroundings as much as adults do.

At home he's probably very well used to getting up in the middle of the night and going to he bathroom alone.

At 4yrs old, he probably didn't comprehend that he was someplace different and should have mom or dad go with him. And plus if it's the middle of the night...even less likely he would remember something like that.

I'm a pretty heavy sleeper, can't get an alarm clock to wake me up. But what does wake me up is Kari getting out of bed, or my dog whining at the door. (things that kari sleeps through no problem). I'm surprised the parents were able to sleep through the child getting out of the tent, unless of course the kids had thier own tent.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I had not thought of that maybe the kids did have a separate tent I'm sure parents were scared! I bet they don't do that again. I just can't imagine a 4 year old sleeping in a tent and getting out without me waking up! I can tell you when we tent camped my son would be in the corner and would have had to walkover me or his dad before he made it to the door.

 

[stacktester]

We were coming back from Epcot and saw 8 OCSO cars pass us. I asked what happened but nobody seemed to know.

A couple years ago we were at the movie and all of a sudden security vehicles were driving all over. There was a boy about 4 missing then too. They had carts all over by the water looking for him. They came over and stopped the movie and said a child named so and so was missing and if anybody saw him please let them know. So they resume the movie but knowing what was up nobody was watching and got up to go help. Turns out, this lady turns to me and says is that your son sleeping on the blanket. I said no and with the lights on we realized he fit the description. They woke him up and asked his name and sure nuf it was him so all was ok.

 

[liv luvs disney]

How scary! My kids are 12 and 8 and I would not let them go to the CS in the middle of the night or after dark by themselves. Surely the parents weren't aware. I'm not trying to pass judgement, but I have to wonder how the crap this happened!?!?!? Thankfully it had a happy ending.

 

[datgrt@fw]

In case anyone was wondering why there was a search helicopter buzzing over the campground a few nights ago, here's what I know about it. A little after midnight, I was woken up by the sound of a helicopter in the area. I expected that it was a LifeFlight helicopter and would quickly be gone. It wasn't. It kept circling around and it's search light all over our loop (2000 - tents).

I got up and looked outside our tent. The area was crawling with police. There must have been at least a dozen. They had flashlights and were searching the swamp, the bushes, and every place they could think of. I went over to the comfort station and overheard someone saying that a 4 year old was missing. He went to the bathroom and didn't return.

Moments later, one of the officers searched an apparently empty tent near the comfort station and found the boy. It appears that he was rather tired and went home to the wrong tent and just fell asleep. All's well that ends well, but it must have been a scary time for the parents, especially with all the swampy areas from the rain.

Hello MarkBarbieri ........ I really appreciate the update on the helicopter search! We were returning from the Magic Kingdom late Tuesday night early Wednesday morning around 12:30am when we saw the helicopter. We knew there was a problem but was not sure what it was. I contacted the Outpost/Front Desk and they told me that there was a missing person in the campground. I ask if it was a child but they would not tell me. I am sure thankful that they were able to locate him and everything turned out okay!

Thanks again ........ Doug / datgrt@fw

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I had a 4 year old approach me in the lobby of the Contemporary that she didn't know where her mother was. I told the nearest CM that the child was lost when here comes the mother from the food court (old one). The mother was annoyed with the kid saying to us she didn't know where her mother was when she just went to get food. Who goes to the food court and leaves a 4 year old at a hotel lobby alone!!!! Mother never thanked us for making sure her child was reuinted with her. Geez.

 

[medic9016]

Can a 4yo put the card in the door to unlock it by himself? I'm glad he was OK.

 

[stacktester]

I had a 4 year old approach me in the lobby of the Contemporary that she didn't know where her mother was. I told the nearest CM that the child was lost when here comes the mother from the food court (old one). The mother was annoyed with the kid saying to us she didn't know where her mother was when she just went to get food. Who goes to the food court and leaves a 4 year old at a hotel lobby alone!!!! Mother never thanked us for making sure her child was reuinted with her. Geez.

About 3 years ago we were fixing to go to MK and when we were walking up the sidewalk from Pioneer Hall we saw a little boy about 2 y/o that was crying like crazy. He was yelling mommy over and over. I picked him up and took him to the ticket counter by the bathrooms where they called a security guard over. I was just going to hand him over when he got there but the little guy cried worse when I handed him over. We ended up walking to the petting area and here came a family calling him by name. Ended up they were walking around and the mom thought the dad had him and the dad thought the mom had him. They didn't even act like it was a big deal when they saw him. They just took him and walked off without saying a word. If my kid was not in sight I would be flipping out. Guess some parents are different.

 

[tungpo1]

Yeah, if my 4 year old had to go in the middle of the night, there would be a responsible adult with him.

Wouldn't that have been a hoot to wake up in your tent and find somebody else's kid sleeping in there with you? With my out laws, they had so many kids it would probably be a good 5 days before they realized there was an extra one.

Dam that's what i would think they let him go alone!!! Very good parents they should throw them in the swamp