Quote:
Originally Posted by Firebot
Really tragic end and extremely unfortunate.
I was once lost in the deep woods at the exact same age, in very similar circumstances playing with other kids at our camp area until suddenly I was completely lost with no idea where we were. I was however lost together with 2 cousins - they were around 7-8 years old. I remember it pretty vividly walking non stop for hours and remember losing a shoe in a marsh (for some reason my dumbass cousins thought that going through a marsh was a good idea and I nearly got completely stuck in it).
We were eventually found by a search party around 5-6 hours after we were lost after we luckily backtracked out of the marsh area which led us back somewhat closer to camp. We strayed so far off, we circled around the camp entirely several km because again my dumbass cousins thought walking non stop was the best course, and we never backtracked until the marsh. Searching towards the area we initially went (if family members asked other kids) would have lead to nothing in our case. Obviously who knows what what would have occurred had we decided to push through the marsh.
I feel the initial search area was way too small, considering how in very similar circumstances, what dumb kids lost like us can do and did. Kids don't think to stay put or have working survival instincts, or even think to yell out honestly. That never came to my mind as a 6 year old nor my cousins.
Not blaming the parents here, kids will be kids, and all it takes is a few minutes of inattention. By the time the families realized he was gone, he could have easily been several km away from camp already. In our case, somehow despite having around 40-50 people at a family get together, 3 kids somehow completely disappeared. It is never safe to look away.
Tragically, even a few minutes of inattention thinking everything is ok as your kid is with other kids and is safe can cost a life. If you are in such a spot, even in conditions you think is comfortable or safe, you really are not. Don't be that family that finds itself in the news for such a tragic situation.
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What an absolute tragedy.
Always designate someone to watch the kids if you're not in a "safe space" like inside a house, someone's yard or a play area. If no one is designated it's almost like the bystander effect where everyone assumes someone else is watching the kids. Next time you're in a large group watch how many times people are checking in on their kids...it's not a lot.
My wife and I are very vigilant as we know someone who lost a 1.5yr old to drowning on a beach surrounded by friends and family. Watching our kids you can see how little attention gets paid to kids running around - more often than not one of us ends up "babysitting" all the kids.