A Sea World near Horror

[Judy Hamilton]

We all went to Sea World tonight, a beautiful evening. I was watching and playing with Hayley in the play area, Shannon and Hannah were doing a ride nearby and Tom, was stationed in the general area with Megan sleeping in the stroller.
Hayley and I were having a great time when...she disappeared!
I quickly scanned the area, doing a 360, and began
screaming, in near hysteria, "Hayley! Hayley" I ran from one play area to another screaming the entire time. No apologies for my behavior.I looked and sounded like a mad woman on the loose, Others asked asked if she was dressed in pink, a little girl with blond hair. and I followed their directions, "she went that way"

By this time Tom heard me screaming her name above the din of the children and started his own search. I asked a Sea World employee to help me with the search, and she just looked at me as if she was hard of hearing. So much for training their employees to respond to a suspected, or to prevent an Amber Alert.

Long story short, Tom found our little girl,safe, and due to her running off from Nana Hayley spent the remainder of the evening in the stroller

I am undone

[Peggy Gray]

Sounds just like some nightmares I've had. Thank God for a happy ending. Your heart must still be pounding.

[Ken Pell]

I am glad that things ended well. stories like this always make my blood pressure go up and my eyes widen.


Regarding the Sea World employee ... do you intend to write a letter or contact their administrative offices? I think it would be prudent. In this day and age employees of such places (or even retail stores) she be thoroughly trained to act without hesitation.

[Alisa Stoll]

When my daughter was 3 1/2 I took her, her 4 1/2 year old brother, and my cousin's two girls who were probably around 8 and 10 to our local amusement/water park. Getting myself and 4 kids changed into swimsuits and clothes into a locker allowed my daughter to disappear. Knowing her love for the water I went in that direction and found her waist deep in the wave pool just as it was about to start. All the life guard did was yell at me for being in the wave pool with my glasses on. I wouldn't have found her without my glasses even with her red hair! And the life guard would not have found her until after she had drowned because she didn't care if the water went over her so she wouldn't have acted like she was in trouble. Plus the number of people in the pool.

Fortunately both our stories have a happy ending. Though that was the last time I tried to take 4 kids by myself.

Alisa

[Judy Hamilton]

I am still shaking this morning. Yes, will make an appointment with someone in authority at Sea World and speak to them about their Amber Alert policy. Does not Disney World have a strict policy ? where the exits are closed until the missing child and parents are reunited? This employee I refer to did not seem to care, that I was hysterical, and did NOT (in any manner)join in searching for Hayley, nor alert the establishment there was a missing child. The first few minutes a child is missing are most critical. This is what has me so upset.
I so appreciate Chucky Cheese. They have the parents and each child banded and check each one as they leave the premises, to be certain the bands match.
It would be so easy to take a child at the play area at Sea World. The way it is constructed, with tunnels, and structures which do not allow a clear view of the area, make it a parent nightmare make it a parent nightmare

[Dana Grant]

I am still shaking this morning. Yes, will make an appointment with someone in authority at Sea World and speak to them about their Amber Alert policy. Does not Disney World have a strict policy ? where the exits are closed until the missing child and parents are reunited? This employee I refer to did not seem to care, that I was hysterical, and did NOT (in any manner)join in searching for Hayley, nor alert the establishment there was a missing child. The first few minutes a child is missing are most critical. This is what has me so upset.
I so appreciate Chucky Cheese. They have the parents and each child banded and check each one as they leave the premises, to be certain the bands match.
It would be so easy to take a child at the play area at Sea World. The way it is constructed, with tunnels, and structures which do not allow a clear view of the area, make it a parent nightmare make it a parent nightmare

I lost Lindsey in the JC Penney store in Los Angeles when she was about 4 years old. In reality, she had just gone off with my sister and her daughter, and they SWEAR that they all told me they were going off together, but I SWEAR that they didn't!!

Anyway -- I have to say that JC Penney handled the situation quite well. The security guard and salesperson there went on quick alert and headed over to the nearest exit. They put an announcement on the store's intercom, and everyone went into high gear to look for her. It was a long story, but she was found in the company of my sister and niece...I've never been so relieved in my entire life!

So, I know the panic feeling that you have, Judy.....it's one of the most awful feelings in the world, isn't it? And you may end up saving another little child by bringing this situation to their attention.

Praise the Lord everything worked out well in your situation......:::::::shivers::::::::

[Judy Hamilton]

Dana...your reply brings to mind when I traveled from Okla City to LAX when Shannon was six years old. I picked up my German family in Los Angeles. We spent the next three week on a journey back to Oklahoma, making all of the stops along the way, national parks, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
We arrived late in Yosemite where I rented a cabin. They gave us the wrong key. Leaving Shannon with my German family(who spoke not a word of English) I returned to the lodge for another key. When I came back to the cabin, the couple in the cabin next to ours said "Honey, you have such a beautiful friendly little girl. Please keep close watch on her, as in the darkness of these Redwoods, she could be whisked away and never found"
Her admonition ruined my journey. Las Vegas was our next large airport. I placed Shannon on a non stop direct flight back to OKC and the arms of her dad.

Then there was the time when Shannon became separated from me in the Frankfurt Germany airport. We were on our way back to the States,I am carrying Kris, age 2 and Shannon age 5 is following me. I have with me Ludwig, who at this time is allowed to attend with me as far as customs. I pass through the crowded customs and turn to say goodbye to Ludwig,when we cannot find Shannon.We have this conversation, I thought you had her hand, no I thought you had her hand. I immediately start screaming her name at the top of my lungs. It was at least ten minutes of my non stop screaming,, when a tearful little Shannon is brought to me. The airport employee had her in an office. She could not speak German. They placed two and two together and decided the screaming woman and the little girl crying in English must belong to each other.

When were all settled in our seats on the plane I enjoyed a glass of fine German wine :basic04