10-year-old girl miraculously rescued after enduring a freezing night alone in the Cascade mountains near Seattle, Washington.
In a heroic search operation involving teams from across Washington state, Shunghla Mashwani, a 10-year-old girl, was successfully located after getting separated from her family during a visit to the rugged Cle Elum valley. Despite enduring frigid temperatures as low as 38F (3C), she managed to stay warm by seeking refuge between two trees.
Shunghla, a brave girl who arrived in the US from Afghanistan two years ago, went missing while wearing only a T-shirt and jeans. However, her remarkable strength shone through as she endured the night with just a few minor scrapes, according to Kittitas County Deputy Sheriff Chris Whitsett.
The search mission commenced when a concerned cabin owner, witnessing the frantic search efforts of adults without access to mobile phone service, offered his satellite phone for emergency contact. Subsequently, over 100 search and rescue volunteers, equipped with two helicopters and cutting-edge ground mapping technology, embarked on an overnight hunt.
"I was thinking, I will find my dad and keep walking in the forest to find my dad," shared Shunghla, describing her decision to hike downstream after losing her way.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, in a Facebook post, commended her remarkable survival instincts and resourcefulness. They highlighted how she intuitively followed the river, displaying exceptional resilience for a 10-year-old girl.
At 15:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday, two dedicated searchers successfully located Shunghla and promptly arranged for a boat to transport her across the swiftly flowing Cle Elum river, reuniting her with her relieved family. The challenging terrain did not deter the determined girl, as she traversed a mile-and-a-half of dense vegetation on steep slopes, impressing rescue teams with her resilience.
In an effort to aid the search, the sheriff had Shunghla's father record a message in their native language, which was broadcasted across the search area.
The family, who expressed their fondness for the high-altitude backcountry of the Cascade mountains due to its resemblance to Afghanistan, frequently spends time in the area, according to officials.
Mr. Whitsett, who spearheaded the extensive rescue operation, expressed the concerns of the searchers regarding the possibility of the girl being swept away by the frigid, fast-flowing waters, heightened by the melting spring snow.
He remarked, "We're so grateful because for searchers, we know that many times our first fear is 'oh no, that kid is probably in the river and drowned before we even got that call'." Mr. Whitsett acknowledged that such outcomes sadly occur at times. However, he hopes that this particular story will inspire others to hold onto hope and tirelessly pursue rescues for as long as possible.
His words serve as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and maintaining optimism even in the face of daunting challenges.