For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Great Barrington Rescuers Locate Missing 13-Year-Old Boy

GREAT BARRINGTON — Police Chief William Walsh and Fire Chief Charles Burger are pleased to report that search and rescue teams successfully located a 13-year-old special needs child who went missing early this afternoon during a hike.

Rescuers responded at 12:15 p.m. to the Fountain Pond State Park, a 400-acre park near US Route 7 for a report of a missing hiker. Upon arrival, officials were told that a 13-year-old boy became separated from his group during a hike and could not be located.

Firefighters began a search of approximately 3 miles of trails, but were unable to locate the boy.

Multiple jurisdictions were summonsed to conduct a thorough search of the area, including:

• Great Barrington Police and Fire Crews
• Great Barrington Police K-9
• K-9 units from Pittsfield and Williamstown
• The Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Mobile Communications Vehicle
• The Massachusetts State Police Airwing, State Police Search and Emergency Response Team
• Berkshire County Mountain Search and Rescue Team
• Massachusetts Environmental Police
• The Sheffield Fire Department
• The Stockbridge Fire Department and Stockbridge Fire Boat

Crews deployed over a wide area. Thankfully, the boy was found shortly before 7 p.m. at the top of a ridge well of the trails. He was found unharmed and in good health. Rescuers reunited him with his parents.

More than 75 rescuers took part in the search.

“This was a tremendous team effort that involved dozens of rescuers from many of our neighboring and partner agencies. I am very pleased that so many resources could muster in a short time, resulting in the successful rescue of this young boy,” Chief Walsh said.

Added Chief Burger: “Mutual aid is a force multiplier that allows Berkshire County emergency services to greatly increase our effectiveness in times of need. The system showed its value today, and a child was reunited with his family.”

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