A 2-year-old boy from Ozark County went missing Friday afternoon after following his dog into the woods.
Just before sunset on Friday, one of the nearly 100 people searching for Waylon Loftis discovered him in the wooded area near his residence close to Lake Norfolk in Tecumseh.
KYTV reports Loftis was supposed to be napping but instead made his way out of the house after the dog, despite the safety measures around the doors to the residence.
A man from Bakersfield, Jonathan Belt, who is also a veteran and now a paramedic, said he dropped everything to help find the boy. Belt states the wind calmed down just a little bit and he heard a whimper, which registered in his mind as being a child, and that’s when he found Loftis.
Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin states the search was challenging and stressful but with the help of 90 to 100 people, Loftis was returned safe.
Those helping with the search included the Tecumseh Volunteer Fire Department, Dora VFD, Ozark County LifeCall, Gainesville VFD, Lick Creek VFD, Caulfield VFD, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Bakersfield VFD, Henderson VFD and many more.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI