GSP copter pilot finds missing child in Walton Co

A helicopter pilot with the Georgia State Patrol is getting the credit for finding a 4 year-old girl who went missing in woods in Walton County. State Patrol Corporal David Staniszewski found the boy after a low-altitude search near two ponds and a creek bed in Walton County. He was safe and reunited with her family.

Editor’s note: a previous version of this story described the child as a girl, which was incorrect, proving that it is always wrong to assume gender.

From the Ga Dept of Public Safety Facebook page…

Troop E alerted GSP Aviation late Wednesday night regarding a missing 4 year old that got separated from older siblings in a wooded area in Walton County. Pilot CPL David Staniszewski began a low altitude search of the last known area near two ponds and a creek bed. Staniszewski landed in a nearby field to remove the helicopter doors for better visibility and expanded the search past the creek. After approximately 5 minutes, he saw a glimpse of blonde hair in a wooded area a 1/4 mile from the original search location. Staniszewski contacted the ground units and gave them his location and notified them to get EMS to the scene. Ground units did a great job of getting to the location quickly, and the boy was picked up and carried back to the road where EMS and his family were waiting.

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