New York State Trooper Brian Hotchkiss came in the nick of time to rescue a missing two-year-old girl from the top of a mountain in South Bristol. He believes a delay of 20 to 30 minutes could have made an immense outcome on the incident.
After the 911 call reporting a missing girl in Ontario County, they called the state police for assistance. Hotchkiss knew they were racing against the clock. He said, “These missing kids, it can go really bad. It’s time-sensitive depending on the time of year, so although it was a nice day, the temperature was dropping.”
Law enforcement officers knocked on neighbors’ doors to check on the missing girl. But as sundown approached, they needed to make a quick decision. Hotchkiss and two other troopers decided to climb the mountain approximately eight kilometers high near the girl’s house. The streams and ponds near the mountain added to their worry for the toddler’s safety.
Along with the state police, the dispatch team comprised a sheriff’s K9, a drone team, and investigators were dispatched to the scene of the missing child.
Hotchkiss reached the mountain top after about 60 minutes. All he saw were trees of grey and brown. But then looking again, the state trooper saw a pink dot. He immediately called for backup and went there as fast as he could.
When Hotchkiss got a clearer view, he saw that she was lying on her stomach over a rock. He quickly ran to the girl. Then he saw her arm moved. “And I knew she was alive, and my heart just dropped. I was so excited. I ran up. She hugged me immediately. She wouldn’t let go,” he said.
They found the young girl shivering so another trooper wrapped her in his uniform to keep her warm. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance and was declared safe and healthy after that.
This rescue mission is similar to how God is continuously seeking those who are lost. He left the 99 to find the lost one because every life is precious in His eyes.