Two-year-old Noah Found Alive In the Wilds 36 Hours After Vanishing From Home

Thursday, June 17, around 7 PM (WET), civilian search volunteers find two-year-old baby Noah alive following a “disappearance that should be considered spontaneous,” José Monteiro, coordinator of the Judicial Police (PJ) of Guarda, told Lusa news agency.

Family and friends believe that ‘a miracle happened’ and have since praised Noah as, “baby hero.”

The two-year-old baby had been missing since Wednesday morning, when the boy’s mother reported the disappearance from the family’s household near Medelim, Proença-a-Velha, Castelo Branco. Allegedly, the child left his parents' house out of his own will between 5 AM and 8 AM on Wednesday.

The boys’ father left the household to work the fields around 5 AM, and when the boy’s mother woke up, around 8 AM, the child had disappeared, and in the house was only his six-year-old sister.

Moreover, the family’s dog Melina was also missing, along with a pair of rubber boots. Melina was found on Wednesday afternoon by a resident that saw the dog roaming around, but the toddler had vanished.

The Search Operation

GNR and the PJ police immediately mounted a search and rescue operation with support from drones, K-9 teams, firefighters, municipal civil protection, and countless volunteers that swiped the area on Wednesday (16) with no luck. Then came nightfall, and the chances of finding little Noah alive grew slim.

Then, on Thursday 17, authorities found footprints and several pieces of Noah’s clothing by the banks of the Torto river, including a diaper, his shorts, and a rubber boot. In addition, they had already found a shirt that the boy’s mother later recognized as pertaining to Noah.

Finding Noah

Thirty-six hours later, Noah, the missing baby from Proença-a-Velha, was found alive in the search area that had initially about five to ten kilometers but had recently been extended to a radius of 20 kilometers. The child was found naked, about four kilometers from home, but should have walked a total of 10 kilometers during the last 36 hours.

The boy had minor injuries on his legs and was taken to the hospital in Castelo Branco as a precaution to be “subjected to medical evaluation.” The first medical report confirms that the child was admitted, is stable, and under observation.

An Emotional Reunion

After hours of despair, in Proença-a-Velha the locals came out to the streets rejoicing with the rescue of little Noah. The population had been massively engaged in the search and rescue operation, but everyone feared the worst possible outcome, as the second night after Noah's disappearance was upon us. Finally, then, the news broke, and we were all overwhelmed with joy.

Correio da Manhã TV (CMTV) was the first media channel to advance the news that Noah was alive and has since also disclosed an emotional photo showing Noah in the arms of his father after being rescued.

Medical Update

Castelo Branco Local Health Unit, Amato Lusitano Hospital, held a medical briefing held on June 18. Clinical Director for Primary Health Care, Maria Eugenia Monteiro André, MD, shared that little Noah was peacefully asleep and would stay under medical care throughout the day.

When admitted, the toddler was dehydrated and sleepy but Haemodynamicly stable and showing only minor bruises all over the body. He was cared for and had a good night's sleep with his mother that stayed overnight in the hospital room.

The medical community from Castelo Branco Hospital was astonished when they realized little Noah was in good condition after staying alone for 36 hours in the wilds.

Noah is safe and sound with his mother and father; the boy's grandmother has shared on social media the family appreciation for all the help and love they received while searching for Noah.

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