The moment a child goes missing is terrifying for everyone involved.
Many people would panic if they went to their child's bedroom and found it empty. Thankfully, during these tough times, we can count on those around us.
When River Schomaker's mother, Hollian Markusen, went to check the boy's bedroom around 6 a.m., she found the 2-year-old's bed empty.
He was quickly reported missing to the police in Northeast Portland, Oregon. The authorities launched a massive manhunt to search for River. Local officials, FBI agents, police dogs, and over 50 volunteers all searched for the child.
Nearly six hours after he was reported missing, a police dog made a beeline for a blackberry bush. He found River there, alive but shaken up from the ordeal.
In the video below, a helicopter camera caught River's rescue in its entirety. The police official that picks River up clearly is beyond happy to have found the little boy alive.
"It brought a tear to my eye because he was alive, we found him. That's a very big deal to find a child alive like that, because the more these go on, the more things can take different turns," said Portland Police Sgt. Jeff Helfrich.
River's father Aaron thinks his son might have gotten out through a door on the ground floor of their condo, which he plans to baby-proof immediately. River was treated for cold exposure and scratches, but was released from the hospital that night.
If you're happy to see this little boy was safely found, you'll enjoy this rescue story where a police dog found a missing little boy after discovering his pants in the woods.
Please SHARE this video to show all of the hard work put in by volunteers, local officials, and the brave police dogs to reunite this family!
