5 Year-Old Girl Feared Dead Surprises Rescuers

Five year-old Hannah Klamecki was feared dead when she came out of the woods near rescuers Friday morning. She was scratched and had a case of poison ivy but was otherwise unharmed and was carrying raspberries. Hannah's grandfather, David Klamecki, 62, was discovered earlier that morning dead, according to CNN News.

Hannah and David Klamecki disappeared Wednesday evening near Momence, which is 45 miles south of Chicago. Hannah and her grandfather were out on their boat the last time they were seen.

Hannah's father, Mike Klamecki, said that he and other rescuers were on the verge of getting into their boats to continue their search for Hannah when they got the news that she had appeared out of the woods.

From the evidence found so far and Hannah's own accounts, the authorities investigating this case believe that Hannah and her grandfather stopped near a small island in the river to swim. According to her father, Hannah tried to go to the other side of the boat when she could no longer see her grandfather. Authorities believe she was swept up with the current. According to CNN News, Hannah said she was wearing floaters on her arms and was able to pull herself up with a branch.

According to CNN News, Hannah was placed into the hospital for observation Friday night. Speaking of what happened to her, Hannah said, "I was scared last night when everybody was gone," she said. "I went searching all over the world to look for the cottage [where her grandparents live]."

At this time it is unknown if David Klamecki, Hannah's grandfather, was killed before she was swept down the river or afterwards, perhaps trying to rescue his granddaughter.

According to CNN News, Hannah's father Mike Klamecki is a senior pastor at his church in Villa Park. Friends of the family are quoted as crediting God with Hannah's survival.

The area that Hannah disappeared in is rather unpopulated. The town of Momence, IL only has an estimated population of 3,171 people, according to City-Data.com.

In the United States, there is an average of 3,308 drownings per year, according to the CDC and recreational boating is one of the leading risk factors in drowning. Of the one to four year olds that died in 2004, 26% died from drowning. Thankfully drowning rates have slowing declined over the years, however drowning is still a leading cause of death in children.

Sources:

Associated Press, "Girl, 5, stumbles from woods to delight rescuers," CNN: (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/16/girl.found.ap/index.html)

City-Data, "Momence, Illinois," City-Data.com: (http://www.city-data.com/city/Momence-Illinois.html)

Centers for Disease Control, "Water-Related Injuries: Fact Sheet," CDC Website: (http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drown.htm)