Boy, 7, Found After Leaving Campsite

A 7-year-old Mexicali boy who wandered away from his family’s campsite in this park 35 miles northeast of San Diego over the weekend was found in a rocky ravine Wednesday--cold, weary and hungry but bearing only minor cuts and bruises as evidence of his ordeal.

Jesus Antonio (Pepin) Garcia Morales was found sitting on a rock in a rugged gully at 4:40 p.m. by a team of U.S. Marines, who were among more than 200 volunteers, rangers and law enforcement officials combing the mountainous park since the boy’s disappearance Sunday afternoon.

A Sheriff’s Department spokesman said Jesus was dirty, “a little disoriented,” weak and complaining of a stomachache when he was found 1 1/2 miles from the family campsite, but he appeared to be in good spirits.

After he was reunited with his parents, who had kept a nervous vigil at the park since their son vanished, Jesus was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. Suffering mild dehydration and hypothermia, he was given oxygen and an intravenous saline solution during the trip.

Emergency room physicians said Jesus had a sunburned face and superficial scratches, but no internal injuries.