Six-year-old boy with autism found alive after two nights in Kentucky woods
Roman Heilman was discovered on a horse trail alongside a small dog after a large-scale search operation.
A six-year-old boy with autism, Roman Heilman, was found alive in the woods of eastern Kentucky on November 3, according to the Times of India. Heilman had been missing since approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, when he disappeared from his home on Tadpole Road in Louisa, Lawrence County.
The Kentucky State Police issued an IAN Alert, which is a protocol for when children with autism or mental health conditions are missing and potentially in danger. The search involved more than 300 volunteers, emergency responders, and specialists using helicopters, drones, and aircraft to scan hillsides and riverbanks.
Rescuers faced challenges due to cold and rainy weather. Officials reported that Heilman had removed his clothes while wandering, and search teams found his jacket, trousers, and diaper in the area. To attract his attention, volunteers were encouraged to sing familiar songs like If You're Happy and You Know It.
On Tuesday morning, a group of horseback riders including Jacob Mullins and Jonah Lainhart spotted the child on a horse trail. Heilman, who was accompanied by a small dog, approached the rescuers and held onto a leg. He was found without clothes and had scratches and bruises, but was conscious and able to eat and drink.
Rescuers provided him with water and a banana before transporting him down the mountain on horseback. Heilman was taken to a local hospital to recover from dehydration.