You see your child busy playing, so you decide to step out for a minute. Get the laundry, take out the trash, or get some ingredients from the fridge.
These are quick tasks that we do for that ‘one’ minute. This is a familiar situation, isn’t it?
With all the things we have to do, stepping out for a minute may not look so bad. But what if in those few minutes, your child’s life takes a big turn?
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.
June 3, 2022, was a beautiful Friday afternoon. Little Ryker Webb, age 3, was busy playing in their backyard with their family dog and his father. Their home is near the 18 mile-marker of Hwy 56 south of Troy on the East side of Bull Lake.
Because Ryker was busy, so his father stepped inside the house for a minute and when he came back outside, he was nowhere to be found.
At approximately 4:53 PM, the LCSO or Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from a neighbor.
Deputies and David Thompson Search and Rescue responded to the report of a suspected missing child.
It was two hours past the time that Ryker went missing, and it was getting dark. Everyone did their best to search for the toddler.
Aside from the many people who started searching for the boy, the authorities also had ATVs, drones, and even K9 units. There was also a boat unit positioned on the lake.
Can you imagine how scary the situation would be for a little boy?
They were all determined to find Ryker in a few hours, but they failed. They decided to continue the search and rescue the following day.
June 4, 2022, everyone woke up early to continue searching for the boy.
According to a Facebook post from LCSO, they added additional help to the team. There were two Montana Air National Guard helicopters and drones from Flathead County and Spokane Police. There were more K9 teams, and even the townspeople started helping.
Unfortunately, the weather worsened. There was rain, low visibility, and a low ceiling.
Because of the poor weather condition, and dense vegetation, it became a very challenging search and rescue.
Poor Ryker had been in the woods for over 24 hours, and everyone was worried. Because of the situation, Code Red Alert was sent out.
They also released a missing person’s report, and they broadcasted it nationwide.
June 05, 2022, 53 people were still out there, searching for the little boy.
He spent two nights alone in the cold forest without food and water. Time was their enemy.
Then, they received a tip. Some deputies rushed to the location.
It was at Pine Ridge Road off South Fork Bull River Road in Sanders County, and when they saw the boy, it was indeed Ryker.
The people who found him heard the news and checked their cabin in the woods. Most of the time that cabin was empty, and when they arrived, they heard a little whimper.
There, they saw the missing little boy.
How did he survive the weather, the dangers without food, water, light, and warmth? Aside from that, he was found 2.4 miles away from his home.
According to an interview with NewsNation, Sheriff Darren Short said that the boy used an old lawn mower catcher bag as his sleeping bag.
It kept him warm.
When the ambulance came, they took the boy and gave him first aid. They said that the boy was not harmed and was still healthy, though, obviously shaken, hungry, and thirsty.
After two days, Ryker was finally home.
A scary situation turned into a miracle. Watch the full feature below and read the post from LCSO.
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