An Easter Day Miracle: A Lost Flip-Flop Leads To The Discovery Of A Lost Senior Citizen

April 22, 2019

Some are calling it an Easter Day miracle.

It’s a story that involves a lost elderly man, a lost flip-flop and an a happy ending to what could have been a very bad situation.

Clifford Reynolds, 83, drove left his home on Gulf Beach Highway about 6 p.m. Friday, and was spotted driving his white Chevrolet Avalanche in Brewton just over four hours later. He wasn’t seen again until a chance discovery Sunday afternoon, well after a silver alert had been issued.

Terrie Bickford said her family visits Spring Lake on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment a lot of weekends. Easter Sunday was no different, other than the kids in the group were riding 4-wheelers in a different area of the woods.

“They all came back except for my son Nicholas ” she said. “He lost his flip-flop and went back to get it. After a while, his younger sister said we better go back and get him because he had not returned.”

When Nicholas Deleon, 12, went back into the woods for his flip-flop, he found a white Chevrolet Avalanche on wooded trail. Beside the truck was a man on the ground – missing senior Clifford Reynolds. He wasn’t sure how long he had been in the woods or how exactly he got there.

Reynolds was transported to an area hospital for evaluation, but was believed to be in good shape, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m glad the kids were playing back there. They don’t go back there very often,” Bickford said. “It was a good Easter miracle.”

For more details on Reynolds and his rescue, click here.

Pictured top: A group of friends there were riding 4-wheelers in the woods at Spring Lake in Cantonment Sunday afternoon. Pictured inset: First responders in the woods with missing senior Clifford Reynolds. Pictured below: Sgt. Delarian Wiggins of theEscambia County Sheriff’s Office presented 12-year old Nicholas Deleon with a challenge coin for finding Reynolds. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

22 Responses to “An Easter Day Miracle: A Lost Flip-Flop Leads To The Discovery Of A Lost Senior Citizen”

  1. TUMom on April 24th, 2019 11:11 am

    GOD IS GOOD. ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!!

  2. CC on April 23rd, 2019 4:53 pm

    May God bless you!! Lil Mr Hero!! U made my bestie Cheryl Reynolds feel so bless that u found her father!! Blessings are on the way!

  3. Crystal Holliday on April 23rd, 2019 2:23 pm

    God is so good, and always on time! This is a great story, this child is a hero and these two families will no doubt be connected forever. Thank you Jesus for sending angels to lead Nicholas to this man. On his resurrection day what better way to tell us he is still alive and with us today and forever.

  4. JT on April 23rd, 2019 12:13 pm

    Thank you for finding my Granddad! Nicholas you are amazing man! Words cannot express your good deeds.. Our family is forever greatful!!!

  5. Jennifer Knudsen on April 23rd, 2019 10:09 am

    Love this…great story, gives a glimmer of hope, amongst the sea of sad stories this morning. What great character this young man has, he did the right thing instead of going on about his way.

  6. Docia Lysne on April 23rd, 2019 10:08 am

    Hero wow congratulations what a kind thoughtful child!

  7. TIA GREEN on April 23rd, 2019 9:39 am

    Thank you baby for finding my granddaddy our family is grateful! God is! Bless you all real good.

  8. EMD on April 22nd, 2019 7:29 pm

    I LOVE this story. Awesome! So happy.

  9. Stacey T on April 22nd, 2019 6:36 pm

    Great job neighbors!

  10. Sharon Roller on April 22nd, 2019 5:17 pm

    My Great Grandson. My Hero!!!

  11. Richard P Wild on April 22nd, 2019 11:58 am

    Way to Go Nicholas! … Isabella, Terri Lee and friends.
    Your loss (the flip flop), your thoughtfulness and kindness may have saved Mr. Reynolds’ life. We know his family is grateful to you. You helped save someone’s grandpa!
    We are so proud of you and everyone who helped.

    Love Grandpa and Grandma Wild in Texas

  12. Jean on April 22nd, 2019 9:30 am

    Somebody needs to tell WKRG that this man was found. They are still giving the missing man information on their newscast this morning as a silver alert.

  13. Baby Girl on April 22nd, 2019 9:29 am

    I,too,believe that God Almighty placed everyone in the right place at the right time!!! What a Mighty God we have!!!!

  14. Baby Girl on April 22nd, 2019 9:28 am

    To God be ALL The Glory!!!!!!!!!!!

  15. Deborah Daugherty on April 22nd, 2019 8:23 am

    Thank you,,,,you are hero’s.

  16. Michelle on April 22nd, 2019 8:16 am

    So glad he was found! Great job Nicholas! Praise God!

  17. Tara Allsopp on April 22nd, 2019 7:16 am

    Awesome! It’s nice to see a positive story this morning!

  18. Byrneville Mimi on April 22nd, 2019 6:53 am

    Praise God! This was not a coincidence. Thank God this young man followed through on his feeling to return to look for his shoe. I believe God used this to rescue this man. A true miracle in my book!

  19. Samantha L Noble on April 22nd, 2019 6:28 am

    Nicholas you are my hero ❤️

  20. JustSaying on April 22nd, 2019 5:55 am

    God puts us right where we need to be! Thank God He was okay, I’m sure terribly shaken!

  21. Grateful on April 22nd, 2019 3:22 am

    Thank GOD He still goes after the one lost sheep! Definitely an Easter Miracle!

  22. barbara on April 22nd, 2019 3:17 am

    Good for you finding that guy!! I see you got rewarded! Good deal!