A state trooper hiking in the mountains found a missing 2-year-old child in the forest — and the little one wouldn’t let go of him.

Many parents are most afraid of their child getting lost. That’s why they set rules like telling them before going outside or staying nearby in busy places like stores or parks. But sometimes, kids don’t follow these rules because they get distracted by something they think is more important.

Sometimes kids walk away from their parents or home without meaning to get lost. After exploring and having fun, they suddenly realize they don’t know how to get back or where their parents are. By then, their family is likely very worried.

They would probably call the police and search everywhere, hoping their child is found quickly and safely. New York State Trooper Brian Hotchkiss didn’t expect to spend his workday looking for a missing child. But when the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office got a call about a 2-year-old girl who had disappeared from her home, he quickly joined the search.

At first, Hotchkiss and other officers went door to door, asking neighbors if the girl had gone to their house or if they saw where she went. But as the day went on and no one had any helpful information, Hotchkiss realized they needed to try something else. He started to worry she was still outside, and it would soon get dark and cold.

Near the missing girl’s home, there was a mountain with trees and streams. Hotchkiss decided to climb it to get a better view of the area. He hoped he might spot the child if she was in the woods. At first, all he saw were green and brown trees. But then he noticed a small pink spot. Since he knew the girl was wearing a pink shirt, he headed that way. As he got closer, he saw that it really was the missing 2-year-old.