SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Two eastern Washington boys were safe Monday after being found by a sheriff's helicopter in the snowy woods north of Spokane, authorities announced.
The youngsters, ages 7 and 9, were spotted in a field by a Spokane County sheriff's chopper around 11 p.m. PST Sunday, nearly six hours after being reported missing by their parents.
The boys, whose full names were not released, appeared to be suffering from near hypothermia but recovered quickly after being bundled into a warm vehicle by rescue personnel, the sheriff's department said in a written statement.
The helicopter crew used searchlights and night-vision goggles to look for the boys, and a loudspeaker to direct them to an open field. The pair was spotted in an open area. One was in the fetal position and neither was moving.
The chopper set down and Deputy Chad Ruff waited with them until rescuers in an all-terrain vehicle arrived. Ruff said one of the boys had tried to ford the Little Spokane River to reach a house on the other side, but had to turn back.
