Be Prepared

Brennan Hawkins gets a kiss from his father Toby as they arrive at a hospital in Salt Lake City.

I couldn't be happier for Brennan Hawkins and his family.

There must be a Boy Scout merit badge for surviving in the wilderness for four days.
FOX reports:

KAMAS, Utah — Rescuers on Tuesday found an 11-year-old Boy Scout who disappeared four days ago in the Utah wilderness, a discovery scouting officials called a "modern-day miracle."

Brennan Hawkins (search) was located safe and sound with no major injuries. He was found just before noon near Lily Lake, about five miles northeast of the Boy Scout camp where he was last seen Friday, said Kay Godfrey, director of public relations for the Great Salt Lake Council.

After the discovery, Brennan's emotional mother addressed the media, saying her son's survival represented nothing less than divine intervention.

"People say that the heavens are closed and God no longer answers prayers. We are here to unequivocally tell you that the heavens are not closed, prayers are answered and children come home," Jody Hawkins told reporters as the family arrived at Primary Children's Medical Center (search) in Salt Lake City.

Brennan was apparently in high spirits as he rode with his family to the medical center in an ambulance.

"He laughed on the way here, just like he always has," said his mother.

With a towel around his neck, Brennan waved to reporters as he was carried on a stretcher from the ambulance to the hospital entrance.

Volunteer Forrest Nunley, a 43-year-old house painter from Salt Lake City, was the searcher who found Brennan. Nunley said he came across the boy "standing in the middle of the trail. He was all muddy and wet."

"He was extremely hungry and thirsty," Sheriff Dave Edmunds said. "He looked like he was in excellent shape to me."

The boy saw some volunteer searchers on horseback, but "he didn't want to come out. He was too scared. He was a little delirious. I sat him down and gave him a little food," Nunley said.

Edmunds said Brennan did not want to talk much but after drinking some water and eating some food he expressed interest in a volunteer's cell phone video game. Edmunds said he didn't tell rescuers much except that he wanted to see his mother.

How wonderful for a story like this to have a happy ending!

A poignant side story:
Among the volunteers was Kevin Bardsley, whose 12-year-old son, Garrett, vanished last August while camping at a nearby lake. He was never found despite a weeklong search.

"When we came off this mountain in the winter, my friends and I decided right then, if anyone came missing, we'd be there immediately," said Bardsley.