Dogs May Have Saved Boy’s Life|ABC 13

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Dogs May Have Saved Boy’s Life

12/07/08 10:02 pm | reporter: Sarah Bloom producer: Amy Foster

search tags: missing • boy • jaylynn

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Halifax Co., VA - Sarah Ingram, Mother - "When I first saw him, he was like, "Momma, I got cold. I slept in the woods last night. The puppies kept me warm."

A three-year-old is back home safe and officials believe it was two dogs that saved his life.

Authorities called it a race against time, tonight a missing toddler is alive and recovering in the hospital after spending the night lost in the woods. 3-year-old Jaylynn Thorpe went missing around 4 p-m yesterday, after wandering away from his babysitter.

It happened just off Buckshoal Road in the Virgilina Community and the community just refused to give up hope. Even when things looked grim, the volunteers kept coming, the search teams kept working.

Talking to people, the only way to describe this is a miracle. It was a sea of lights, sirens, search teams. A 3 year old, Jaylynn Thorpe lost in the woods, no clue as to where he had gone and temperatures dipping into the teens.

James Thorpe, Father - "We didn't forget the issue that 17 degrees was almost unbearable."

Katherine Elliott, Guardian and Grandmother - "People all over the state of Virginia was down there looking for that child. For a while there, one time, I didn't know whether they would find him or not."

He was missing for 21 hours. A long time for anyone to be outside in the winter and alive.

Sheriff Stanley Noblin, Halifax County Sheriff's Dept. - "The only thing we wanted to do was just keep searching until we found him."

But something kept Jaylynn going, as he fought against time.

Sarah Ingram, Mother - "God...and those dogs."

Two puppies, that officials say, probably saved his life.

“He told me that...the dogs slept up against him. And I'm sure the body heat kept him warm."

He traveled half a mile to a mile in the dark, through dense woods, even crossing a highway. But it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that search teams found him, lying up against a tree, with the dogs.

Noblin - I would definitely call this a miracle. Thorpe - I think I just said 'Thank you Lord' ...for us to have another chance!”

Another chance to be a family. A miracle indeed.

Jaylynn is expected to spend the night at Halifax Regional Hospital. We're told he's doing remarkably well. He's eaten a double cheeseburger, a hot dog, strawberry ice cream, and lots and lots of French fries. And his family says thank you, to all the people who prayed for Jaylynn, and helped bring him home.

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