Police rescue 7-year-old Mass. boy lost in swamp
Merrimac and Amesbury first responders rescued a 7-year-old boy who became lost in a swamp over a mile away from his home Friday evening.
Merrimac police and firefighters received a report about a 7-year-old boy who was missing from a home on East Main Street shortly before 7:40 p.m., authorities said in a press release. Several on and off-duty officers responded, including one K-9 officer and an Amesbury officer who offered to use a drone to aid in the search.
After an intensive search, they found the boy 1.3 miles away from his home, authorities said. He was waist-deep in a swamp and unable to move.
The officers freed the child and were led out of the woods with the help of some drones, authorities said. Merrimac firefighters treated the boy at the scene, but he was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.
Merrimac Police Chief Eric Shears spoke with the boy's mother Saturday morning, authorities said. She said her son is doing well and that she is 'extremely grateful for everyone who helped out, and all the officers and everyone involved were absolutely amazing.'
'I have never been prouder of the department, our mutual aid partners and our community,' Shears said in the release. ' ... Had this child not been located this quickly, I fear our community might have faced a tragic outcome. The professionalism, dedication and overall excellence of the team led to the best possible result in a very difficult situation.'
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