15-year-old autistic boy found safe after going missing in forest near Monrovia

MONROVIA >> Rescuers found a 15-year-old autistic boy more than six hours after he became separated from his group while hiking in the forest north of Monrovia Saturday, authorities said.
The Placentia teen was hiking with a church group comprised of special needs teens shortly before noon north of Monrovia Canyon Park when he became lost, Monrovia police Lt. Nells Ortlund said.
He went ahead of the group and became separated from his fellow hikers near the trail head of the Twin Springs Trail, north of the Trask Scout Camp, police said.
His group first searched for him themselves before they made their way out of the wilderness and were able to call for help about 3:20 p.m., the lieutenant said.
The boy had some food and water with him, but he is not familiar with the area and was not dressed for cold weather, officials said. The concern continued to grow as nightfall approached.
But officials found the boy shortly after 6:30 p.m. about two miles away from where he had been separated from the group, Lt. Nick Manfredi said. He was unharmed.
Monrovia police were joined in their search by the Monrovia Fire Department, the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team, and helicopters from the Pasadena Police Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ortlund said.

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