Sheriff: missing 3-year-old slept in lawnmower bag | Banfield

3-year-old Ryker Webb has been found alive after being missing for two full days in Montana, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Webb was found “in good spirits and apparently healthy, although hungry, thirsty, and cold,” according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short shares the latest details on NewsNation's "Banfield." Short revealed that Webb may have slept in a lawnmower bag.

#survival #montana #missing

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[traildoggy]

Kid handled himself better than some of the adult hikers I've met cold, wet and unprepared on the trail.

[cidalia]

That’s the thing with small children. You can’t let them out of your sight for a “hot minute.” It’s crazy the trouble they can get themselves into so quickly.

[MariaAbrams]

The look on this kid's face in the picture from when he's found makes me think of the old pics of shell shocked ww2 and Vietnam War soldiers. So thankful this Lil boy is OK. It really is amazing. Poor baby, this is so good!

[wcolautti]

There’s something about the before and after picture that makes my blood run cold. I pray to God the little guy makes a full recovery. Wow.

[TheAIishere]

As a father of a 3 year old boy this story makes me cry, in relief.

[valleygirlgg]

He looks a bit shell shocked in the ambulance. So glad he is ok

[Katie-mwpd]

That photo of him in the hospital was very shocking, but I heard he was very happy to see his parents, so it seems hopeful that he will make a full psychological recovery. I hope that is the case and that he’s able to grow up to recognize how amazing it is that he survived on his own in the woods at such a young age.

[shirleysays]

I remember a few years ago a boy was lost in the woods. They asked him how he stayed warm and he said a bear hugged him and stayed with him.

[pctaves]

What a precious little soul. So, so happy he was found safe.

[deliajones]

Thats a smart little boy right there!! He actually saved himself, if he had not found and took shelter when he did, he probably would not have survived this. Don't underestimate our little people, he's a hero!!!

[ashleighrose]

What a smart little boy!! Thank u to everyone who helped bring this little man home safely, what an incredible story so glad it had a happy ending!

[stellar]

As a parent of children I want to reach out hug this little angel so tight and never let go. My heart hurts that he went through such an ordeal, all by himself but I'm so glad that he was found safe

[jenmailsouth]

That little dude is a warrior. 💪 Thank you to those searchers!

[IntrepidFraidyCat]

I've seen it before..2-3 year olds wandering off. They can cover a lot more ground and more quickly than adults realize or are willing to believe. I'm so glad he was found unharmed.

[KT-vwqq]

For anyone wondering what actually happened:
So the most reasonable story the cops have put together is actually that he lived kinda out in the country by mountain trails and got out of his house one day and started looking for bugs on the trail. He was just wondering around along the trails and realized he was lost. He thought if he kept going he could find his way home. He probably would have stopped except he really needed to get home so he kept walking even though he’s tired. He managed to make it 2.4 miles and lightning storms started. He found a cabin nearby and was smart enough to get into the cabin for the night instead of staying in the storms. Meanwhile his parents searched for him for 2 hours before calling the police and a full search was launched. Because they had waited 2 hours, Ryker was farther along than they searched. Once the storm started, they had to stop the search but continued on the next day, and the day after that. He had gone missing Friday afternoon and was found on Sunday in the cabin he had found shelter in. He was found by the owners of the cabin, and was returned to his parents. The reason he looked so traumatized in the second picture is because he was. He had stayed alone in a cabin during storms and not knowing if he was ever gonna see his family again for 2 whole days. He also had no food or water. As a 3 year old, the boy is able to talk so this is not a made up story, this is actually what the boy told the police, and what the police believe most likely happened. Also he was wearing different clothing when he was found, but one explaination is that he found those clothes in the cabin or maybe changed before he ran off without his parents knowledge. Either way, it’s not exactly an unsolved disappearance. It is still an open case because no one can say for sure what really happened. But at the current moment, this is the most widely excepted and most plausible explanation.

[ScoobyDoozy]

Ryker looks like a right little character. He reminds me of the “actually” kid. This Sherriff was engaging, warm, and I felt like I was right there with him as the events unfolded. Would love to hear more of his stories. Especially appreciate him sincerely acknowledging the volunteers, thank you to everyone who helped contribute to Rykers safe return. This goes to show that teaching your kids how to ask for help if you’re lost in the bush is just as important as the shopping centre, and from the moment they can walk (not to mention staying away from water without a big person).

Every parent has a story of the day they lost their kid for a minute, or five minutes, or ten- the utter panic and turning hysterical. For 99.9%, they find their child within a few minutes and are flooded relief, and it becomes a story.

But, for the 0.1% who don’t become lucky, they are thrust into a nightmare- from there, most don’t get the happy ending that Ryker and his family did.

Yet the other 99.9% of parents who lost their children for five minutes quickly forget their own whisker near-misses, parsing judgement. “You can’t ever let your child out of your sight, even for a second”.

There but for the grace of God.

[marilyntaylor]

This child slept in a lawn mower bag? He is very smart; at 3 years old, no one has taught him survival skills, so that's impressive. I am so glad to hear he is okay.

[mikehagan]

As it was reported locally.
The people that owned the cabin upon hearing about the lost boy.
Decided to go up to thier property and look around for the Boy.
Let's hear from the people that Found The Boy.
Best Wishes! M.H.

[gabe-poyi]

I think a lot of people don’t realize how far and quickly a child this age can go, because all they’ve experienced is their child’s movements when they’re always around. You cut a kid loose and zoom they can go for long distances. If you’ve ever turned your head in the grocery store, turned back and they’re gone, they’re never just one aisle over, are they?

[egrffin]

The look of his eyes before and after his ordeal just freak me out, it's like he aged a decade.!