NY Post – July 24, 2017
by Daniel Prendergast and Khristina Narizhnaya
A mischievous 6-year-old girl set off a massive search-and-rescue effort — including a human chain to comb the surf for her — on the beach in Coney Island on Sunday.
The youngster’s family was taking a photo on West 12th Street near the boardwalk in Brooklyn then the girl disappeared in a flash around 2:20 p.m., according to a family friend.
“We were taking a picture, and she was just running around, and then we didn’t see her,” said the woman, who declined to give a name. “We were looking for her everywhere. She wandered away.”
The FDNY sent out divers, and police deployed a helicopter to search from above, authorities said.
Fearing the worst, dozens of lifeguards began combing the sand and sea for the little girl and formed a human chain while other beach-goers joined in the search.
“I sent six of my grandkids out there [searching],” said Yolanda Kurz, 51, of Sheepshead Bay. “When somebody’s child is missing like that it’s scary.”
Police found the girl unharmed an hour later and returned her to her parents, officials said.
A family member squeezed the girl tightly and planted a kiss on her head after they were reunited by authorities, photos show.
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