Mom, Kids Rescued After Getting Lost In Gwinnett Park

DACULA, GA — Multiple police crews, including a helicopter unit, were involved Wednesday in rescuing a family lost in Gwinnett County's Harbins Park.

Gwinnett County Police got a 911 call at about 3:30 p.m. from a woman saying she was lost inside the park with her 4-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

She said they'd been lost for about two and a half hours and that she didn't have food, water or items needed to care for her children. Uniform officers responded almost immediately and began searching for the family.

Shortly after 4 p.m., an aviation unit arrived at the park and joined the search.

During the search, police say, the woman was able to maintain contact with dispatchers and tell them when she could hear the helicopter overhead. The communication helped pilots pinpoint her location through a thick canopy of trees.

Within 10 minutes of searching, the family was located about 200 yards off of a main power line easement that borders the park. The pilots were able to give hand signals to direct the woman toward uniform officers who were on a trail nearby.

Immediately after she was located, the woman's cellphone battery died, police said.

Harbins Park is a 1,900-acre park in Dacula. It opened in 2009 and includes a a 4.3-mile paved walking trail, a 7-mile equestrian trail, a 13-mile mountain biking trail and a 4.5 mile hiking trail.

A river channel runs through it and it is also the site of sports fields and a playground.

"The positive outcome of this rescue was a direct reflection of the teamwork and training that our pilots, uniform officers, and dispatchers go through on a regular basis," Gwinnett County Police spokesman Cpl. Deon Washington said. "We strongly urge all residents to pre-plan their park outings by preparing with adequate water, food, maps, fully charged cell phones, and first aid kits."

Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department