A baby boy survived being buried under a pile of sticks and other debris in the woods of western Montana for a full nine hours.
“He suffered some minor scrapes and bruising but overall is in good health,” sheriff spokeswoman Brenda Bassett said in a Monday statement, The Associated Press reported.
Authorities began looking for the five-month old baby after they apprehended 32-year-old Francis Crowley Saturday night following threats the man made against residents of Lolo Hot Springs. An entourage of state, local and federal forces trekked through the woods of Lola National Forest for hours before hearing the cries of a distressed baby around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
The baby was found underneath a large pile of debris. Authorities determined the baby had been out in the 46-degree weather for at least nine hours.
“For all of us at the sheriff’s office, this is what we call a miracle,” the Missoula Country Sheriff’s office said in a statement Monday. “For the officers who were present for this event, it’s especially hard knowing what this small baby endured in the last 24 hours.” (RELATED: Abducted Florida Baby Found Alive 18 Years Later)
Sheriff McDermott would like to thank those who assisted in the search and those who called 911, helping first responders bring this baby to safety,” said the report from the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.
— CBS 21 News (@CBS21NEWS) July 9, 2018
Authorities took the baby to the hospital after the rescue to make sure he was in good health. The state Division of Child and Family Services currently holds custody of the baby.
An 18-month-old baby girl performed a similar miracle by surviving in the bushes of Elmira, New York, for three days in 2017.
Crowley is being held on $50,000 bail for criminal endangerment.
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