BROOKLYN (VINnews) — Now that Yosef Shapiro has been safely reunited with his family, it is time to shine a spotlight on some of the key events leading to his rescue.
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A Brooklyn community member by the name of Victor Shine was the one who was out near the beach and heard Yosef call out, prompting him to call for backup, after which Yosef was found.
In a voicenote making its rounds Thursday morning, Victor says that he initially was not going to go out searching.
“I was debating whether I should go,” Victor said. “It was overcast, I’m an older guy, what difference could I make etc.”
But then, Victor said, he thought about his 6-year-old grandson, and had a realization. If God forbid it was his grandson missing, he would want every single individual out there searching. So he went down to the search site.
Victor describes arriving at the scene, and seeing hundreds of people standing there, willing to search but awaiting instructions. But he didn’t want to wait any longher, so he switched on his phone flashlight, and began to search.
He describes walking under the bridge by the Belt Parkway, up and down the beach, calling out “Yosef Yosef! Come, we have pizza and ice cream for you! We’re looking for you!”
Initially there was no answer. And after an hour and a half of searching, he started to doubt whether he still belonged out there, due to his own health.
But as he turned back, he noticed a dirt path. So he turned onto the dirt path and called out again, and it was at that moment that he heard a child’s voice call out “Ta” from the darkness.
Immediately a younger search volunteer rushed off into the marsh to try to search more closely, while Victor phoned Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, a frum high ranking NYPD official who was running the search.
When he finally got through, Taylor sent out a few ATVs and big truck with a bright light.
Minutes later, Yosef was found safe.
The main takeaway for Victor, he says, is how one person can make difference.
“Who am I, I’m some old 56-year-old guy,” said victor jokingly, “and it apparently made a difference right when they were giving up hope, right when the sun was already set and the rain started coming down, eliminating any trail. You just keep going, you just do, and don’t worry about looking stupid, or feeling stupid, you just do.”
“And I’m so thankful that I got to be part of this story, and I’m thankful he’s ok, and his family is ok, and Klal Yisroel is going to be ok.”
LISTEN TO VICTOR RECOUNT THE STORY BELOW:
Thank you, Victor. The next thing we have to find is Moshiach!!! How do we find him? By being good and doing good!!!!
Shana Tova!
I was out there searching too. Came out in a regular pair of pants and a polo shirt with a flashlight. Later it got dark and started raining and thundering, but continued the search because I could not leave while he was still missing. Got wet, but it did not matter. Was so happy when I heard he was found, caught a ride back to where I was parked (was way out far from where he was lost and near where I parked) and went home. It was amazing the amount of people that came out there all united in a singular purpose of finding that child.
Victor, it’s not by mistake or random that you were the one that was zocheh to find Yosef. Your going above and beyond had Hashem lead you to him.
The community is thankful that we have such wonderful people who are dedicated b’lev v’nefesh on our behalf.
Hashem should bentch all of you with shefa b’rochos.
very inspiring and the guy didnt do it for the kavod and finally we have a worthy representative Ritchie Taylor representing the frum in the highest echelons and not a self serving self appointed so called askan. The important thing is Yosef is home.
I’m so happy that Yosef was found. What a Blessing. I am distressed that Victor thought of himself as an elderly man at 56 years old! That makes me ancient but i don’t feel that way, B”H.
I think I know the area he’s describing where he went to look for Yosef. I went there to be toivel something erev Pesach during the Corona lockdown. Great going Victor.
I think the biggest hashgocha protis is that of all people searching this guy had the commanding officers phone number and was able get resources there right away.
On Shabbos I was at a kiddish and someone started talking, and giving his spin and disinformation about this story. Here are some facts. I personally spoke with one of the head-staff members of this daycamp. Everything was done properly. A roll call was done before boarding the bus and that was when it was noticed that a boy was missing. In fact some of the headstaff who were on the trip stayed behind to continue the search. One of the news stations said he was missing 10 hours that’s totally impossible. The boys first left to the park after lunch which is after 1:pm The six hour time frame he was ,missing is more correct. Some guy started complaining about supervision. The fact is, you don’t need a chaperone for each daycamper. There was the required amount of supervision for the amount of boys there. some were complaining that they should’ve called Shomrim and NYPD earlier its very tricky to decide when to call. The head staff that were there made the decision to call for help when they thought it was necessary. Very easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. Finally the fact the media didn’t make this a front page story shows the everything was done correctly.