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A 4-year-old boy was found safe after going missing overnight at a campground in California, authorities said.
Christian Ramirez’s family reported him missing Thursday shortly before 11 a.m. PT at the Rancheria Campground near Huntington Lake, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
More than 50 sheriff’s deputies and volunteers searched all night for the missing boy. Christian was found around 8 a.m. on Friday, about a quarter-mile from the campground, by the Tulare County Search and Rescue Team.
“He’s tired and hungry, but he’s alive and healthy,” said Lt. Brandon Pursell of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. “This is a great victory for everyone who worked hard to find him.”
The search used helicopters, drones, dog teams, boats, and people searching on foot through rough terrain.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office shared pictures and videos of Christian after he was found. He was wrapped in a coat and eating a sandwich when he was reunited with his parents.
Pursell told KFSN it was lucky the boy was found safe, given the dangers in the area. There were bears, snakes, water, and places to fall. The child only had a T-shirt and shorts on during the cold night. He was checked by medical staff and was okay to go home.
Many things could have gone very wrong,” he said. “We got lucky, and the family got lucky.
Pursell told KFSN they are still figuring out what happened, but it looks like the child just wandered off while the family was camping.
“We think it was just a bad accident,” he said, adding that no crime is suspected.
Pursell reminded parents to be “extra careful” this summer.
“Kids wander, especially in wooded areas and near water. We want to remind parents to always watch their children closely,” he told KFSN.