'Tough' toddler found alive after 2 days in woods

[almaty 19]

ARCADIA, Mo. – Thirsty, dirty and tired after spending two days and nights barely clothed in the wet, chilly woods of Mark Twain National Forest, 3-year-old Joshua Childers was ready to go home.

The boy was lying on the ground of a hollow near a creek bottom Wednesday afternoon when a volunteer searcher spied his bare bottom.

"Hey, bud!" called out Donnie Halpin, a 57-year-old construction worker from nearby Fredericktown, who wasn't sure whether the grimy figure was even alive.

But Joshua sat right up and grinned at his rescuer.

"You ready to go home?" Halpin asked.

"Yeah," said Joshua.

The boy was wet and only wearing a T-shirt and one tennis shoe. Halpin called 911, then wrapped the child in his shirt, scooped him up and carried him about a half-mile to a house.

"He hung on to me pretty tight," said Halpin, who didn't have any water for the child but gave him some candy. "Outside of a few scratches, he was in really good shape."

Joshua had slipped out of his family's mobile home near Arcadia in rural southeast Missouri around 11:30 a.m. Monday, while his father slept and his mother talked on the phone.

Terry Schulte, the boy's grandmother, told KSDK-TV that Joshua told her he was on his way to visit her. She lives about five miles from his home, and he was found covered in ticks about a half-mile away. Somewhere along the way he lost his pull-up diaper and one of his sneakers, which searchers found near a pond Monday.

Halpin discovered Joshua around 4 p.m. Wednesday while walking along an all-terrain vehicle trail about three miles from the boy's home, after first spotting some stray dogs sniffing at something.

"I'm going to put him up for the Grizzy Adams Award, send him bear-hunting with a stick," his overjoyed father, Adam Childers, told reporters, marveling at his son's survival skills.

"It's undescribable how grateful we are," Childers said. "I mean, you doubt if God's actually with you for awhile, and then something like this happens, and you know he's there."

Madison County Sheriff David Lewis said searchers had been growing increasingly pessimistic about their chances of finding Joshua alive. He figured three days was about the limit for the boy's survival in the wild without food and water.

"It's a miracle," Lewis said. "I'm so happy, you can't believe it."

Hundreds of volunteers from as far away as St. Louis, 100 miles to the northeast, came to help in the search. So did professional search and rescue crews from dozens of agencies. The Missouri State Highway Patrol brought in planes. The state Water Patrol brought in divers and sonar. Dozens of dogs, horses, ATVs and even donkeys scattered in the miles around the tiny home that sits along the wild, rocky terrain of the Mark Twain National Forest.

The area is home to bears, mountain lions and snakes. Heavy rain Tuesday night and Wednesday morning swelled creeks in the area.

"I don't know how he did it," Adam Childers said. "I don't know grown men that could do it. But all I can say is he's a tough little #######."

Doctors have told him that his son is a little dehydrated but otherwise fine, Childers said. The child was evaluated and listed in fair condition, first at Iron County Hospital and later at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City, where he was transferred because it has a larger pediatric unit.

The boy has been asking for milk and hot dogs since his rescue, Childers said.

[jundp 191]

That's awesome...

[Nagishkaw 510]

Thank God!

[almaty 19]

cool story..not to far from here..use to camp .. a few years ago in that region

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...made me cry, when I just read this out loud to Jinky...because I had a dream last night that I kept calling out for Joshua and I couldn't find him. Thank God the little guy was ok.

[almaty 19]

great story brother stevie...the town of ironton is having a parade this week-end to honor all those who searched for the little tyke...

[jodee 30]

That is a wonderful story,..inspirational.

But does anyone apart from me think that it should never of got to that to start with. When you are a parent its a 24/7 job. That child should not of been out of that mothers sight for a second. being on the phone is simply no excuse.....

Maybe I am being harsh,..but sheesh

Edited May 7, 2009 by jodee

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That is a wonderful story,..inspirational.

But does anyone apart from me think that it should never of got to that to start with. When you are a parent its a 24/7 job. That child should not of been out of that mothers sight for a second. being on the phone is simply no excuse.....

Maybe I am being harsh,..but sheesh

No, you're not harsh. There isn't a chance that my baby girl (not quite 3 years old yet) would wander out of the house unsupervised. Not a chance.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

When I was 6 I got left at a convenience store/laundry mat. I was asleep in the van and Mom and my 3 brother went inside. I woke up and went inside looking for them just as they were leaving. I came outside and the van was gone. I sat on the steps and cried. Some Hispanic guy wanted to take me home which was even more upsetting. I just waited and then the van came back and everyone was happy to see me. Mom thought I was in the van asleep the whole time until she asked everyone what they wanted for ice cream and realized I wasn't there. Moral of the story I think when you have more kids and responsibilities going on that it's harder to keep track of them all. I think it's understandable that a child might slip out of your sight. I've known parents who were shattered when their youngest slipped out of there sight and into the back yard where he drowned in the pool. Not only were there parents there but also older siblings able to watch him but mistakes still happen. He was lucky and I am glad they found the boy.

[Ban Hammer 13,395]

That is a wonderful story,..inspirational.

But does anyone apart from me think that it should never of got to that to start with. When you are a parent its a 24/7 job. That child should not of been out of that mothers sight for a second. being on the phone is simply no excuse.....

Maybe I am being harsh,..but sheesh

ita

[Niels Bohr 72]

...made me cry, when I just read this out loud to Jinky...because I had a dream last night that I kept calling out for Joshua and I couldn't find him. Thank God the little guy was ok.

Me too!

Poor little guy. I can imagine my child (my wife's pregnant) in the future to do something like that.

[Nessa 23]

That is a wonderful story,..inspirational.

But does anyone apart from me think that it should never of got to that to start with. When you are a parent its a 24/7 job. That child should not of been out of that mothers sight for a second. being on the phone is simply no excuse.....

Maybe I am being harsh,..but sheesh

ita

ita2

[almaty 19]

the old man was asleeping ( probably sleeping off a 3 day drunk)...the mother supposely ironing (probably watching General Hospital)...the future juvenile deliquent bolted...

better ??

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...made me cry, when I just read this out loud to Jinky...because I had a dream last night that I kept calling out for Joshua and I couldn't find him. Thank God the little guy was ok.

Me too!

Poor little guy. I can imagine my child (my wife's pregnant) in the future to do something like that.

Oh, a big congratulations, brother!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the old man was asleeping ( probably sleeping off a 3 day drunk)...the mother supposely ironing (probably watching General Hospital)...the future juvenile deliquent bolted...

better ??

lol