Missing Miami Girls Express Gratitude From Their Hospital Beds

by Sandy Eller for VIN News

The two North Miami girls who went missing yesterday after a Shabbos walk gone awry told their rescuers that hearing helicopters circling overhead in the darkness provided them with much needed reassurance and hope during a chilly Florida night spent lost in swamp-filled woods.

16 year olds Bracha Katz and Rivka Moshe, tenth graders at the Lubavitch Educational Center’s Beis Chana High School in Miami, were enjoying a school wide Shabbos retreat at a vacation property in Kissimmee when the pair failed to return after going out to enjoy a walk on Shabbos afternoon, as previously reported on VIN News.

“There was a lake behind the building and the girls went for a walk,” Elan Moshe, Rivka’s father, told VIN News.  “My daughter fell down and her friend tried to help her up.  They weren’t able to go back the way they came so they kept walking and they got lost.”

The farther the two walked the more difficult the terrain became, according to Mark Rosenberg, director of Florida’s Chesed Shel Emes and a chaplain for the Florida Highway Patrol.

“They ended up in a bad area full of bushes and thorns,” said Rosenberg. “They walked all through the afternoon, listening for the sounds of cars and motorcycles, but the more they walked the farther they got into the swamp,” said Rosenberg.

At some points the swamp was so deep the girls were chin deep in the murky water and they realized that they needed to get to higher ground.  They climbed up a small tree which broke and continued their quest to find dry land. As night fell the pair began to get nervous.

“They had no food, no water, nothing and they had no idea what kind of raccoons or other animals might be nearby,” said Rosenberg.  “They tried to stay awake but what gave them the most support was hearing the choppers that kept coming.  They climbed up another tree and tried to wave but no one was able to see them.”

By daybreak numerous agencies had converged on the scene including members of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Hatzolah of Miami and Florida’s Chesed Shel Emes, with personnel from Governor Rick Scott’s office working all through the night to make all the necessary resources available for the search.

When the helicopters returned again in the morning, the teens once again tried waving to attract attention. Having spotted the girls, the helicopters went to relay their position to the rescuers who were ready to comb the woods and after refueling, the helicopters worked in tandem with ground crews to pinpoint the girls’ location, dropping a note to the teens bearing the words, “Stay put.  We are coming to you.”

“There was no path,” said Rosenberg.  “We had to use chainsaw just to make a path.  Hatzolah was digging and digging.  By the time we got within 50 yards of the girls we could hear them but still couldn’t see them.  They were able to tell us their names so we were at least able to make a positive identification.”

The overhead helicopters continued working with the teams on the ground directing them to the girls and dropping the girls kosher food, water and shoes.

Rescuers were just 20 yards from the girls when they found themselves in dangerously deep water that was determined to be 25 feet deep, forcing them to find another path to the two teens.

After approaching from a different direction, rescuers were able to clear a path all the way to the two 16 year olds who were able to walk out of the woods on their own, two hours after they were initially identified by members of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department.

The girls, who were covered in cuts and scratches from their night in the densely wooded forest, were taken to a staging area to freshen up before they were taken to a second location for a tearful meeting with their parents, who had driven up from Miami to Orlando late last night.

“It was probably the most indescribable reunion I have ever seen,” said Rosenberg.

The two were taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando approximately 30 miles away and were released shortly thereafter.

In a phone interview with VIN News, both girls said that will be staying home from school tomorrow, starting their Pesach vacation two days earlier than scheduled.

Asked how she felt after her long ordeal, Rivka Moshe said, “I am thanking G-d,” adding that she doesn’t remember much of her ordeal.

Bracha Katz’s sentiments were brief but heartfelt when asked if she wanted to address the many people throughout the Jewish community who prayed for safe return. “Thank you,” said Bracha Katz, from her hospital bed.

Bracha’s father, Rabbi Yisroel Katz, said that the thought of living without his daughter was incomprehensible throughout the long night.

“It was very scary but we had bitachon,” said Rabbi Katz.  “It was out of the question not to think anything but ‘tracht gut vet zayn gut.’”

Rosenberg noted that there are lessons to be learned from this frightening episode that thankfully, had a happy ending.

“This was a deep swamp and it is a miracle that they got out okay,” said Rosenberg. “But the girls told us that they weren’t worried and they knew they would be okay because of the helicopters they heard at night.

It gave them chizuk so it just goes to show you that if you think someone is out there, shine the lights, call their names and keep on trying, because those choppers psychologically gave the girls the energy to continue and they knew that once they heard them all they had to do was stay put and someone would come and find them.”

16-year-old Rivka Moshe, with her father (left) and Mark Rosenberg (right) recovering at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida.
16-year-old Rivka Moshe, with her father (left) and Mark Rosenberg (right) recovering at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida.
16-year-old Bracha Katz (center) flanked by her parents, at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida.
16-year-old Bracha Katz (center) flanked by her parents, at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida.
Some of the Chesed Shel Emes volunteers who participated in the search.
Some of the Chesed Shel Emes volunteers who participated in the search.
The note dropped by rescue personal from the helicopter.
The note dropped by rescue personal from the helicopter.
Bracha Katz and Rivka Moshe moments after being located.
Bracha Katz and Rivka Moshe moments after being located.

10 Comments

  • Chaim H.

    Baroch Hashem they are alive and well, however I think its a mistake (not their fault) that they are being made in to celebrities. The reason is obvious.

    Just throwing this out there.

  • Big Z Schapiro

    # Chaim H ,I agree with you 100% they are both alive Baroch Heshem please girls rest up feel better I am happy that both of you are still alive that is the main thing thank you Heshem

  • Flatbush

    I think you should throw it right back. Totally inappropriate comment at a moment of chasdei Hashem, nissim, emotional reunions, etc..
    סיג לחכמה שתיקה

    הודו לה כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו

    • Chaim H.

      Na, needed to said right here right now.

      Are you interested in having a search like this every Monday and Thursday C”V?

      Yes, with all the excitement, the truth must be told.

      Stop taking pictures with them from hospital beds as if they took a bullet for someone.

    • BH

      Respect to Chaim for not backing down; I completely agree with him and what he said.

  • Esty B

    So thankful these precious girls are safe. They can help explain to younger girls how easy it can be to get lost and how important to be careful.

  • Chaya

    Thank you to CH .info and these girls for letting themselves b photographed. It gives me closure to see them safe.

    • Esty B

      I agree. With so much terrible in the world, it’s so wonderful that these girls are safe and sound. Seeing them safe with parents made my day.

  • Response to comment #1.

    This is totally not about celebrities. This is about being caring so much about these girls. Thousands of people prayed for them, were worries about them and stayed up all night becuz of this story. Everyone cares just to make sure hey r ok. And to see the chested and miracles of Hashem. We can’t just complain when someone is lost and not praise Hahsme for it. This is totally not about being a celebrity. This is about care, concern, compassion and עם ישראל becoming one. And thanking Hahsem for protecting these girls and helping us find them. Thank you Hahsne for your miracles. And thank you to all the people who prayed and spent all night looking for these precious girls!

  • Stay where you are

    Experts say that it is very important to not keep on walking. If it is safe to do so, stay where you are. People will start to look for you in the area where you got lost. Parent and counselors should make certain children understand this.