Police dog finds 2 missing 11-year-old kids deep in national forest

A K-9 unit with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana located two missing 11-year-old kids who became separated from their mother and were lost in the woods, police said.

First responders were dispatched to the area of Sundance Lake in Hoosier National Forest at approximately 5:48 p.m. on Sunday afternoon after they received a report that two 11-year-old children “became separated from their mother and were lost in the thick woods,” according to a statement from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

MORE: Gymnast projected to make 2028 Los Angeles Olympics dies after training accident in Russia

“Our department, along with the Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement, Nashville Police Department, Harrison Township Fire Department, and Southern Brown Volunteer Fire Department all began searching the area,” police said.

The initial search turned up nothing but when Deputy Cody Loncaric arrived in the scene with his K-9 partner named Knox, the dog immediately began his first track in a field close to where the juveniles went missing, officials said.

MORE: Border Patrol agents ‘saved’ life of cyclist who fell 50 feet from cliff into remote canyon

MORE: Oregon police recover partial remains of dismembered woman in 80-year-old cold case

“Knox began his first track in the field which was approximately 550 yards in length,” authorities said. “K-9 Knox pointed first responders in the right direction and helped to successfully locate the two missing juveniles.”

Police did not say who long the two children had been missing for or how long but took the opportunity to credit the search team who were able to find the kids deep within the thick forest.

MORE: Visitor dies after becoming unresponsive on roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe

“We are beyond thankful for the great teamwork put together by all involved,” officials said.