A young boy in North Carolina has been found safe and well after going missing some three days ago. Casey Hathaway, 3, went missing in Craven County on Tuesday amid freezing temperatures, after wandering off while at his grandmother’s home.
According to the FBI, little Casey was discovered stuck in a thick thorn bush, soaking wet and crying out for his mom. Despite suffering from a few cuts and scrapes, authorities described the resilient youngster as “very well” and in “good health.”
“The little fella is happy and his parents are very happy as well,” Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes said following the successful rescue.
The grandmother reportedly spent around 40 minutes searching for Casey before frantically dialing 911.
“We lost my 2-year-old grandson,” she screamed down the phone, as reported by the Daily Mail. “He was walking in the woods back there and we can’t find him. Three-year-old grandson.”
More than 100 search team members scoured the area in rural Craven County before locating the child.
Shane Grier, who found Casey, told WRAL-TV the boy was “cold” but that “the more we warmed him up, the more active he became.”
“We brought Casey to his family, just like we said we were going to do,” added Sheriff Hughes. “I could not be happier by the way this turned out.”
Dozens of volunteers are out in Craven County searching for 3-year-old Casey Hathaway this morning.
DETAILS: https://t.co/NR0Co3C1bA pic.twitter.com/y9us8SJrfu— Spectrum News 1 ILM (@SpecNews1ILM) January 23, 2019
According to the sheriff, the grandmother was keeping an eye on three young children who went out to play, but only two returned. The disappearance is not being treated as suspicious.
“We’re very thankful that you took the time out to come search for Casey and prayed for him,” Casey’s mother told the search team. “He’s good. He’s up and talking. He’s already asked to watch Netflix, he’s good.”