Kyle Camp survived by snuggling with puppies in woods. Photo courtesy of WAFF TV

ten year old boy was with Down syndrome was lost in the Alabama woods for 18 hours and kept warm by snuggling with four puppies the mother left with him.

Jamie Swimney of Hackleburg, Ala. told reporters from NBC News that the puppies kept the boy company and then kept him warm and comfortable. It’s hard to think about what might have happened to the youngster if the puppies hadn’t been there. Swimney credits the mother dog for leading him to the child.

Last Tuesday, Kyle Camp disappeared from his home around 4:30 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., when his family was unable to find him, they called the area police for assistance. More than 150 people turned out in small town of just 1,400 residents when the word quickly spread about the lost child. People even left their jobs to come help look for the boy.

Police believed the boy may have followed the family dog and her four pups into the woods. He was found more than a mile and half deep in the woods. Volunteers broke into teams and were assisted by police and fire crews from surrounding towns as they searched the town, roads and the woods directly behind the boy’s home.

Swimney, the owner of Bo’s Restaurant is the one who eventually found Kyle. He was alone, wet, shivering and without shoes when he was found Wednesday at 8:30a.m. Kyle’s feet were submerged in water and he was covered in puppies.

Swimney’s mother, Joan Swimney, says her son dropped everything to help find a friend’s child. She knew he would never quit searching. When he found the cold, frightened child, Kyle was also hungry so Jamie gave him his Dr. Pepper.

Jamie says all the credit goes to mother of the puppies. He knew she would lead him to her puppies and hopefully the boy as well so he stayed on her tail when she began barking and running.

Kyle was treated at the hospital in Hamilton for minor scrapes and bruises and released Thursday. Kyle’s brother, Chris Bailey said it was amazing to watch everyone come together over the disappearance of his brother. He knows they couldn’t have done it on their one and is in awe of how the community reached out when they needed the help.

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