A shocking incident has been recorded in South Carolina in the US, where an 11-month-old baby was found buried alive inside a dog cage, more than 24 hours after he went missing along with his father. Little Koa Sharp was discovered by search and rescue teams in a shallow hole in the woods, locked in the cage, wrapped in a towel and covered with dirt.
According to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Coon, the baby had been underground for about 24 hours before being discovered. Authorities believe the cage may have provided the space it needed to breathe and survive during that time.
"Thank God, the cage probably provided him with enough air to survive the last 24 hours underground," the sheriff said during a press conference.
The search for the baby began after he disappeared along with his father, 25-year-old Michael Comer. According to investigators, Comer's mother was initially caring for the toddler, but in the morning she temporarily left him with her son until the arrival of a nanny who would take care of him. However, when she arrived, she found neither the baby nor the father.
The disappearance was reported that afternoon, and more than 100 officers from local, state and federal agencies joined the search. An Amber Alert, used in child abduction cases, was not activated because authorities did not have enough information about the possible vehicle used, including the license plate.
During a search of Comer's apartment, investigators found the baby's personal belongings, while both doors to the house were left open. The father was not there. According to the sheriff, he had been seen in various areas of the county, where he had allegedly asked for transportation and called a taxi to get from one place to another.
Later that night, police found the 25-year-old in a shed and arrested him for burglary and resisting arrest.
The search continued on Tuesday, when officers expanded their search to a forest area near his residence. There, they also noticed freshly fallen pine needles, which raised suspicions that a hole might have been dug and covered in that area.
As they began digging, the police heard the baby's cries coming from underground. The officers rushed to pull it out and managed to rescue it from the cage where it had been locked and buried.
"He was screaming at the top of his lungs, which is a good sign when it comes to babies," the sheriff said, describing the moments when the little one was found.
Despite the rescue, the 11-month-old remains in critical condition. Authorities say he is fighting for his life in hospital, and the sheriff hopes he will make a full recovery.
