Nadia Bloom ~ UPDATE!! Nadia was found alive this morning (04-13-2010)
UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!
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WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — A missing 11-year-old central Florida girl with Asperger syndrome was found alive on Tuesday, four days after she disappeared into an alligator-infested swamp a half-mile from her suburban home.
Nadia Bloom was taken to a hospital in nearby Longwood, Fla., where she will be evaluated and treated for dehydration and insect bites, said Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle.
"If I never believed in miracles, I sure do now," Brunelle said during an afternoon news conference.
Brunelle said Nadia told rescuers two things: "I'm glad you guys found me" and "I can't believe you guys rescued me."
Her sister has said Bloom, who has an autism-related disorder called Asperger syndrome, may have gone into the dense woods hoping to make a nature video.
It took nearly two hours for rescuers to carry Nadia out of the thick brush and swamp. It wasn't police who located her. James King, who goes to church with Nadia's family, found her Tuesday morning in a dry patch in the middle of the swamp and called authorities.
King climbed a tree and unfurled toilet paper in an attempt to draw attention to where they were.
Brunelle said he dispatched a helicopter to look for King and Nadia, but it didn't work.
Using cell phone signals, authorities found King and Nadia.
"Mr. King is a hero right now," said Brunelle. "He led us to her."
Brunelle added that detectives are questioning both King and Nadia for more details on the rescue and how the little girl spent her time while she was missing.
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NADIA BLOOM Case Type: Endangered Missing DOB: Aug 12, 1998 Sex: Female Missing Date: Apr 9, 2010 Race: White Age Now: 11 Height: 5'0" (152 cm) Missing City: WINTER SPRINGS Weight: 85 lbs (39 kg) Missing State : FL Hair Color: Brown Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown Case Number: NCMC1144827 Circumstances: Both photos shown are of Nadia. She was last seen leaving her house on April 9, 2010. Nadia was last seen wearing an orange t-shirt, blue shorts and carrying a backpack with a black horse on it.
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ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Winter Springs Police Department (Florida) 1-407-327-1000
