Posted on 06/20/2005 5:23:04 PM PDT by glock rocks
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SALT LAKE CITY (AP/KSL News) -- A mother tries to keep -hope alive even as thousands of people search for her missing son Brennan Hawkins.
At moment there's still no sign of the 11-year old. That, in spite of intensive searches by air, on land, and in the east fork of the Bear River.
"We look out into this darkness now and somewhere my son is out there," Brennan's father, Toby Hawkins, said Monday on NBC's "Today" show. "If you can find time to come up here and help us, please do. That's what we need now. We need people to come up and help."
The search for the boy resumed around 7:00 this morning, with fewer volunteers showing up. The pool of volunteers looking for Brennan Hawkins dropped to about 60 searchers and 350 volunteers today from about three-thousand people on Sunday.
About 3,000 volunteers searched Sunday, scouring nearly six square miles for Brennan Hawkins of Bountiful, who was last seen near a climbing wall at the 8,500-foot elevation Scouting site in the High Uintas, about 80 miles east of Salt Lake City.
"He's probably dehydrated, sleep-deprived, definitely hungry," said Brennan's father, Toby. "With him being so young at 11, I don't think he's thinking about what he needs to do to survive because he's never been in that environment."
Toby Hawkins, Jody Hawkins, Kevin Bardsley, and Sheriff Dave Edmunds | |
Summit County Sheriff Dave Edmunds says they don't have any reason to believe a crime has been committed, but they're still not taking any chances. Because of that, detectives are checking the background of everyone who was in the mountains over the weekend.
"There has been quite a number of people up here over this weekend. There's individuals that came up to the Scout camp for training, there's people that have been camping in the general vicinity," Edmunds told CBS' "The Early Show." "I've got my detectives out there right now trying to ascertain exactly who was up here in the woods and make sure we didn't have a predator or something of that nature."
His mother, Jody Hawkins, said Brennan had a lot of outdoor experience. His father said the boy is shy and might not approach a stranger to confess he is lost.
The family spoke to the media Monday morning, running on only three hours of sleep since they heard that Brennan was missing,
A lot of adrenaline in your body can kick in, said Jody Hawkins, Brennans mother.
Standing next to them was Kevin Bardsley, reliving the nightmare of when his son Garrett went missing last summer, only 15 miles away.
I have never stopped thinking about my son, and I never will the rest of my life, said an emotional Kevin Bardsley.
When his wife says to me I know how you are feeling, shes the only person that knows how Im feeling, said Jody Hawkins.
Scout leaders began a search for the boy about 6:30 p.m. Friday and were joined by the Summit County search and rescue squad about 9:45 p.m. On Saturday, about 1,000 searchers turned out.
Some searchers brought horses and all-terrain vehicles. Helicopters were used, including one that searched at night using infrared devices.
Most searchers don't know Brennan. Some came from as far as Wyoming.
Some churches in the Bountiful area canceled services on Sunday so their members could help.
Brennan Hawkins, who recently completed the fifth grade, was wearing a blue sweat shirt, black shorts and white tennis shoes when he disappeared. Search officials were not concerned about exposure, as temperatures were only expected to drop into the 50s overnight.
Authorities are fearful the boy may have tried to cross the East Fork of the Bear River, which comes within about 50 yards of the camp. Two swift-water dive teams searched the river for miles on Sunday.
"The biggest risk is the river," Booth said. "It's over a man's head in some places, and the current is swift."
The mountainous area being searched is just 15 miles from where 12-year-old Garrett Bardsley vanished last summer while camping near Crystal Lake. Bardsley was never found, despite a wide, weeklong search.
"When we heard of the situation with Brennan, it made us realize how important it would be to come up and help in this effort and to be here for this family," Kevin Bardsley said.
Answered prayers. Glorious.
WOOOO!
Deputies report him condition Alpha (fair)!!
Life Flight can't find a LZ close to the rescuers... they'll land downhill a bit from him. It's hard to tell the distance from the scout camp by scanner.
Lily Lake area. Six miles from camp.
no, maybe not. It still seems he went like 5 miles. I don't have my maps here, but if memory serves (?!) he had to cross the river to get to where he was found, and it was a good distance. family giving presser now.
Thanks, GR. Fantastic news, indeed.
You're welcome. Actually, wild horses couldn't have kept me from following this story closely. I live in Utah and have a cub scout.
Thanks to all the FReepers for their prayers.
I heard Rush say he was found ~ good news ~ Bump!
Amen to that!
Thank God!
The way he must have survived reminds me of that movie "The Adventures of Yellow Dog." What a great movie. I don't know if it was true or not, but it was about a boy and his dog who survived in the northern wilderness after their boat had been wrecked in a storm. It was a tear-jerker but ended very happily. Love those stories.
BTTT!
Now someone on TV being interviewed said he DID NOT cross the river. He walked a good distance, but stayed on one (the same) side of the river. Very hungry and thirsty when found. Ate all of the food the rescuers had (granola bars, etc.). Details are coming fast. What a wonderful relief!!!
We just heard.
The Uncle was awesome in his heart felt thanks.
Really a spirit lifter for all of us to know there is many more GOOD people in this world then the sick evil perverts who exist.
Give that boy some Gatorade and some warm blankets! Yes Thank You Lord for all your good souls who helped in the search.
Thank you Dear God! Another prayer answered.
"TT", Beth & Nana
Thank you Father! Hallelujah!
This is such happy news. I felt he was alive when I heard about him on the news and prayed he'd keep his wits and stay calm and use his training, and that God would send the rescuers right to him.
What a joy to read this.
Rejoicing with you and all of Brennan's family!
Thank you for the great news! I'm very relieved for him & his family! Some times prayers are answered in the way we want them to be :-)
Here is a good topographical map of the area. The stream going south is the area where I searched yesterday. He was last seen where the two rivers meet in the middle of the map. He went west and was found a mile and a half south of Lily Lake.
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=13&Z=12&X=324&Y=2826&W=3&qs=%7cKamas%7cUtah%7c
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Uh, cellphone?
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