Moms and young kids rescued by sheriff’s office, firefighters and paramedics

Moms April Wright and Alicia Modrall thought it would be fun to take their young children on an easy hike last Thursday.

Wright and her sons, Mattheus, 3, and Dylan, 2, and Modrall and her daughter, Alyssa, 2, hiked about 3-1/2 hours and more than 5 miles at the Flat Rock Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area off Old Woodbury Highway.

Later, the mothers realized they were lost.

“We were in circles with no end,” Wright said.

They called 911 for help. Dispatchers told them to stay in place so rescuers could find them.

Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Romans responded with his bloodhound, Georgia, along with Deputies Brad Harwell, Jonathan Hickman and T.J. Hinson, the Emergency Medical Services Paramedics Jody Hobbs and Deanna Allen, Special Operations Response Team Supervisor Adam Rose and Paramedic Jason Reynolds and the Rutherford County Fire and Rescue Capts. John Ingle and Larry Sloan and firefighters Jack Scoles, Tyler Ruiz, Austin Garner and Matt Stevens.

Romans said he obtained a scent for the families off a car seat and started a track with Georgia.

“They had been out for a while and it was very hot,” Romans said. “I knew we needed to get to them as quickly as possible, especially with 2-year-olds and a 3-year-old. Georgia took us down the trails to the woods, coming in and out of the woods.”

Rescuers traveled a ¾-mile track. They used a Polaris but the vehicle couldn’t make it through the dense woods.

“When we found them, they were hot and probably getting dehydrated,” Romans said. “That was a good day. Georgia did really well.”

In a Facebook message to the Sheriff’s Office, Wright thanked the first responders.

“The response team was amazing, from the 911 dispatch to the end when the team got us out,” Wright said. “I wanted to send my forever thanks to everyone involved. I’m emotional just thinking about how kind and diligent everyone was. It would have gotten much worse without them.”

Wright said she and her children will remember the day forever.

“Ya’ll will always be in my heart and prayers,” Wright said.