Found Boy Scout Released From Hospital

ABC News ^ | June 22nd, 2005 | PAUL FOY

[Skylus]

KAMAS, Utah Jun 22, 2005 — The 11-year-old boy who wandered lost for four days in a mountain wilderness before rescuers found him was released from a hospital early Wednesday, a spokeswoman said.

Brennan Hawkins was found in good condition Tuesday by a 43-year-old house painter on an ATV who was out looking on his own, miles outside of active search grids.

Brennan left Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City not long after midnight, said Bonnie Midget, a hospital spokeswoman. Doctors had said they wanted to keep him at least overnight for tests, said Dr. Ed Clark, the hospital's medical director.

The boy apparently eluded thousands of searchers by defying conventional wisdom: He went up instead of down.

Sheriff Dave Edmunds had said Brennan would have been more likely to head down a river valley from a 530-acre Boy Scout camp in the Uinta mountains.

"Typically children walk downhill, along the least path of resistance," he said. That possibility raised particular fears because the East Fork of the Bear River, which is normally ankle-deep, was swollen by heavy mountain snow melt.

However, Brennan had hiked some 600 feet higher and more than five miles into the mountains to the spot where searcher Forrest Nunley found him before noon Tuesday.

"I turned a corner and there was a kid standing in the middle of the trail. He was all muddy and wet," from walking over wet ground, said Nunley, who dialed 911 on his cell phone and said he was lucky to find a signal.

"People say that the heavens are closed and God no longer answers prayers. We are here to unequivocally tell you that the heavens are not closed, prayers are answered and children come home," said Brennan's mother, Jody Hawkins.

The boy had seen some searchers on horseback but avoided them because he was scared, Nunley said. "He was a little delirious. I sat him down and gave him a little food."

After downing bottles of water and eating all the granola bars carried by a group of volunteer searchers, the boy asked to play a video game on one rescuer's cell phone, the sheriff said.

[Godzilla]

As much as all are happy that the boy was found safe and sound, what is absent is the leadership failure which allowed this to happen in the first place. First there was no 'buddy' system in place - you don't go anywhere, even to the toilet, without your buddy. Secondly, there should have been somewhere in the boy's scouting experience the basic actions to take when lost - stay put. Thirdly, camp staff lost control of the boys and had no means to account for them as they transited from one point to another. I know this may make some of you upset, however, leaders of boys everywhere need to see that these things happen and more importantly, how to prevent it.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks for posting that. I had seen that at REI - and forgot to get it. I am going to show it to my homeschool group and have hubby show it to the Cub scouts.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Hello Ms. TC!

I read a great book on the topic of "stranger Danger". The Book is titled Protecting the Gift and is written by someone who had been an FBI profiler. His advice is to teach children NOT to stay away from all strangers but to find a Mom with children. ( would not have helped our little friend here- but in most cases could be applicable)

I have had two experiences with lost children. Once I found a very small child in a parking lot at Target and he had obviously gotten lost and left the store. He was petrified and I asked him if I could help him and he cried and ran further INTO the parking lot!!! (UGH)

Last weekend I found a three year old girl who was so scared she could not tell me her name. I just kept telling her it was OK I was a Mom and my son was with me, and I promised her that her Mom was looking for her- because Moms do not leave places without their children. And I promised her we would not rest until we found her Mom. She held onto me for dear life- but at least she went. IT took a while but we did find her Mom.

I got a lot of good advice from that book.

Raising children is not for the timid or weak of heart, is it?

*sigh*

[Tax-chick]

I remember reading that book a couple of years ago. It's in the Meck. library. Thanks for the reminder - I should check it out again! I remember the "find a woman with kids" advice, because it was different from "find a police officer." The author pointed out that most people in uniform aren't police officers, and are no more likely to be safe to approach than any randomly-selected man.