Boy lost on cycle is found

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004 | 11:09 a.m.

Search and rescue personnel found a 13-year-old boy alive in a ravine this morning, eight hours after he was discovered missing while motorcycling, North Las Vegas police said.

Officer Tim Bedwell, spokesman for the department, said Zachary Russie and his father were riding motorcycles in a desert area in the area of the Las Vegas Beltway and Commerce Street when the two became separated about 6:30 p.m.

His father searched until about 8 p.m., then called police.

About 12 North Las Vegas officers were joined by three Metro search and rescue helicopters, their crews and a search and rescue coordinator, Bedwell said.

They found Zachary about 2:30 a.m. in a ravine near Decatur Boulevard, north of the beltway. The boy apparently became disoriented and took the wrong pathway, which led him into the ravine, Bedwell said. He complained of leg pain when he was found and was taken to University Medical Center. He was in serious condition this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

"This successful search was the result of the persistence of the personnel whose efforts were hampered by the very difficult terrain and darkness," Bedwell said.