‘Little hero’ schoolboys help track down missing girl

The Year 7 boys from Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted were happy to help with the frantic search to find autistic 10 year old Katy.

She had been spotted distressed at various points along Berkhamsted High Street after had bolted from her home in Castle Street last Thursday (June 25).

Staff at Waterstone’s had dialled 999 after the youngster who communicates using sign language went into the store crying but before anyone could help her she had left.

Soon several police officers, the force’s dog unit and the police helicopter were out searching for Katy along with worried parents David and Lucy Levenson.

But it was thanks to a group of teenagers from Ashlyns School, who sprung into action, that Katy was found.

Dad David said: “I think they are little heroes.

“These were children that are only a couple of years older than Katy themselves and they are such a lovely bunch of kids.

“They are just a great example of what people do in a crisis.”

Katy was found safe and well in South Park Gardens by two of the Ashlyns group.

Thankful David and Lucy visited the school the following day to thank the gang.

“We just lavished praise on them,” said David, who works as a photographer.

Despite the drama Katy was unfazed and upon being reunited with her mum, simply told her she wanted to go home for food.

David, who also praised the fast response of the police and members of the public who helped to search for Katy, said: “When she got home she had something to eat and went in to the garden and started to play.”

Ashlyns headteacher James Shapland said: “It is fantastic to hear our community speaking so positively about our students and I could not be more proud of the way they responded and reacted.

“Katy’s parents were absolutely bowled over with how helpful, how positive, how mature and grown up the students had been in helping to locate their daughter, and wonderfully it was a happy ending.”