Firefighters rescue runaway trapped in tree

Colorado Springs authorities said a 10-year-old girl was returned to her foster parents on Monday after she was rescued from the top of a 20-foot pine tree.

Authorities said the girl ran away from nearby Monroe Elementary School, where she was reported missing. It’s unclear why she left the school, although a police officer at the scene said, “She was having a bad day.”

Police and firefighters responded at about 10:30 a.m. to the tree near the intersection of Academy Boulevard and Bijou Street. Authorities received a report of her missing from the school about 20 minutes earlier, said police.” She was upside down and dangling by one ankle,” said firefighter Lt. Kenny Bradley. “A passerby heard her yelling for help.” Bradley said a firefighter climbed the tree to reach the girl and stand by her until a ladder truck arrived to rescue her.” She was visibly upset,” said Bradley. “Once we got her secured, she was feeling a little bit better.”Bradley said the rescue lasted about five minutes, and that the unidentified girl suffered only minor injuries.

Brett Bryan was among several people who watched the rescue and took pictures.” I thought someone just kind of lost it,” said Bryan, “and went up in the tree, and they were trying to coax (the girl) down. She probably was glad to be down, in the arms of some trustworthy people.”

The incident remains under investigation by police.