4-year-old found wandering Fernandina waterfront at 2 a.m. reunited with father

FERNANDINA BEACH — A 4-year-old boy found wandering alone near the riverfront at 2 a.m. was safely reunited with his father, according to the Fernandina Beach Police Department.

Officers conducting a routine foot patrol at the city's Waterfront Park on July 17 discovered the child and were unable to determine where he belonged. Police kept the boy safe while beginning a search for his family.

Officers soon located the child’s father. Police said the boy had awakened and quietly wandered out of the family’s hotel room without his father realizing it.

The child was found to be in good health, and police reported no evidence of neglect or suspicious circumstances.

“Sometimes the biggest calls don’t involve flashing lights or arrests,” the department said in announcing the incident. “Sometimes, they simply end with a lost child safely back in their parent’s arms.”

Police said the incident illustrates how quickly young children can slip away, particularly when families are traveling and staying in unfamiliar surroundings.

The department recommended that parents engage door latches, consider using portable door alarms and make certain hotel room doors are secure before going to sleep.

“We are grateful this story had the best possible ending,” the department said.

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