A child who went missing in Washington State is safe again thanks to first responders and a fisherman who worked together to find her.
When seven-year-old Shelby Wolff wandered away from her family’s campsite at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway in August, she became trapped on a steep hillside over the lake, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office recounted in a social media post on Thursday.
Deputies, detectives, and search and rescue crew members looked for Shelby all night, but it was a fisherman who heard her cries for help the following morning. Once he called 911, rescuers quickly responded to the area to save the little girl.
Video footage shows crews surrounding Shelby, who is sitting among trees, mud, and sharp rocks, wearing a t-shirt and shorts:
WATCH: CREWS RESCUE MISSING CHILD This video shows the moment search crews rescued 7-year-old Shelby Wolff at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway in mid-August (video shared with parental consent). Shelby had wandered away from her family’s campsite and got stuck on a steep hillside above Lake Merwin. Deputies, detectives, and search and rescue members searched all through the night.The next morning, a fisherman heard a child crying out for help on a steep section of shoreline. He called 911, and the rescue operation began. Search crews had to navigate steep, muddy terrain covered in thick vegetation and sharp rocks. They climbed up the hillside on their hands and knees, grabbing onto fallen trees and roots to stabilize themselves. Searchers safely brought Shelby down and took her by boat to be reunited with her family. We share this video to highlight Shelby’s incredible bravery, having spent the night alone in the wilderness, and to commend the outstanding efforts of our crews. This is the exact reason they receive specialized training for these types of calls. Special mention goes to Clark County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, CCSO Det. Boyse and Sgt. Dennison (who were on the boat with Shelby) and CCSO Marine Patrol.Shelby’s mom also wanted to share this note of gratitude: “I would like to thank the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue for searching all night for Shelby. I also want to thank the fisherman for calling 911 when he saw her.” ️We are happy to let the community know that Shelby is doing great, a few weeks after this ordeal. She just started 2nd grade and is loving school so far! Way to go, Shelby! We are proud of you!
Posted by Clark County Sheriff's Office, Washington State on Thursday, September 5, 2024
“I’m gonna help you down to the deputy, okay?” one of the crew members tells her. The rescuers then hand her off to each other as they work to get the little girl to their boat.
Once they place her in the boat, a crew member hands what appears to be a blanket or coat to Shelby. “There you go. Put that on ya. It’s kind of big, but it’ll keep you warm,” he tells her before they set off to reunite Shelby with her family.
The sheriff’s office said it shared the clip to show her “incredible bravery” after spending an entire night alone in the woods. The agency also commended the crew’s efforts to rescue her.
Social media users also expressed their gratitude, one person writing, “Thank you! Our entire lake community were praying for this little girl! Appreciate all those involved!”
“Wow! What a brave little girl! And what brave heroes saved her. Right to my eyes with happy ending,” another user commented.
According to Fox Weather, Shelby recently started second grade and is doing fine.
In February, officers rescued a five-year-old girl with autism after she wandered away from her home in Tampa, Florida, and got lost in a swamp, Breitbart News reported.
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