Queens Boy Missing in the Catskills Found

Three-year-old boy who disappeared from a Catskills campground on Saturday was found a day later. Daniel Niktalov, who lives in Forest Hills with his family but had been camping at the Swing Bridge Campground in Sullivan County, was found less than a mile away after "rescuers from three states" were involved with search efforts.

The boy, who only suffered a bump on his head and some dehydration, was found under a rock ledge. One rescuer told WABC 7, "I looked up underneath it and first, I thought it was a bear cub. When he looked at me, I thought, thank god he's ok...He smiled. And he came right to me."

Daniel, who the Daily News says was dressed warmly enough for his night in the woods ("Yankees winter hat, a black jacket, and gray pants"), himself explained, "I got lost." And his family was beyond relieved--his mother said, "I feel happy. I thank God that he's safe."

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By Jen Chung in News on May 26, 2008 9:08 AM

Comments [rss]

S_R

The stretch of road on the right side of the picture is called "Hawk's Nest". Car commercials have been shot there.

nonumentalart

why didn't he have one of those leashes?

jack9

"Three-year-old boy who disappeared from a Catskills campground on Saturday was found a day later."

How about "A three-year-old boy"?

Dave Hogarty

Everyone knows that while camping, children should be placed in a bag and hoisted no less than 15 feet off the ground, hanging from a tree branch. Otherwise you'll attract hungry bears to your campsite. Wait, that might be food you do that with.

amsci

I forsee a child harness/leash combo in someone's future.

yomama

That's what my parents would have done - except in reverse order. Just like the time I got run over by a kid on a bike, got knocked down, and fractured my arm. Got smacked upside the head for being outside in the first place.