On Saturday, April 5, 2025, a 2-year-old boy was rescued from a freezing ditch. Michigan State Police sprang into action, using their heat-seeking technology to track down the child, who had been reported missing earlier that evening.
According to a statement from Michigan State Police, the troopers from the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, later identified as Trooper Brandon Franklin and Sgt. Cole Martin, quickly took to the skies in search of the child.
Armed with an infrared camera on their helicopter, they scanned the area, determined to bring the toddler home safely.
What Happened: The Missing Child’s Disappearance
According to ABC News, the toddler had been in the living room earlier when his parents briefly stepped out. When they returned, they found the apartment door wide open and their son nowhere to be found.
“The child was in the living room. They walked out. They come back a few minutes later and the door to the apartment unit was open,” Trooper Brandon Franklin stated.
It was around 8:00 p.m. when the parents realized their child was missing and immediately called the authorities. The search began shortly afterward.
Toddler Found in a Ditch Near the Highway
Just 15 minutes into the search, the infrared camera on the helicopter detected a heat signature. Troopers were able to pinpoint the missing child’s location: in a ditch near the highway, just off Interstate 94 in Blackman Charter Township, Michigan.
The officers immediately directed ground units to the scene. There, they found the toddler curled up in a fetal position wearing nothing but a diaper.
Fortunately, he was still alert and conscious, though clearly cold from the exposure.
Outcome Could Have Been Tragic Without Rescue
By the time the toddler was located, temperatures had already dropped below freezing. Trooper Franklin said the situation could have ended tragically had the officers not found him when they did.
Franklin said,“If no one would have found this child, the outcome would not have been the same most likely.”
The toddler was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and was reunited with his parents after the rescue.
Featured photos courtesy of YouTube video.
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