In an incredible feat of heroism, a 5-year-old girl who was feared drowned with her grandfather on a boating trip startled searchers Friday when she emerged from the woods -- naked, scratched and holding raspberries. "People were like, 'Who's that little girl? That can't be her, can it?"' Kankakee Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ken McCabe said. "I went up to her [and] asked, 'How you doing? What's your name?"' Hanna Klamecki just replied, "I was scared last night when everybody was gone," she said. "I went searching all over the world to look for the cottage [where her grandparents live]."
This is such a miraculous survival story although the joy of finding Hannah alive is tempered with the sadness over her grandfather's death. Hannah and her grandfather, David Klamecki, 62, were last seen Wednesday evening on the river near Momence, about 45 miles south of Chicago. Authorities believe the river current swept the girl away from a small island where she and her grandfather had stopped to swim and to the shore of the mainland where she eventually was found. On Friday morning, searchers found her grandfather's body near the island, which is close to a part of the river locals call "Whirlpool Bend" because of strong currents from the union of the river and two tributaries.
When authorities told Hannah Klamecki's family -- already grieving the loss of her grandfather -- that she was alive, the home erupted in screaming. Hannah had scratches on her face and body and thick dirt under her nails. She had poison ivy rashes on her legs and couldn't walk because splinters and thorns cut her feet. Authorities believe the river current swept the girl away from a small island where she and her grandfather had stopped to swim and to the shore of the mainland where she eventually was found. She told searchers she was wearing floats on her arms and pulled herself from the water with a branch.
Hannah's father says he leaned on his faith the entire time. Tricia Little, a close family friend of Hannah's parents, said David Klamecki taught the girl and her two younger sisters about the outdoors. She credits that instruction -- and God -- with Hannah's survival. Hannah's father, Mike Klamecki, is senior pastor at New Hope Community Church in Villa Park. Little's husband, Brian, said parishioners have been "praying for his whole family." "Obviously, we're giving all the glory to God on this one," Brian Little said.
This is one tough little cookie. It's amazing to me how the human spirit can endure so much. My hat's off to Hannah for surviving this ordeal that most of us would probably have succomed to. You're a real hero...you go girl!
