Boy found alive thanks to hero dog week after vanishing in jungle during Hurricane Milton

A young boy has been found alive after spending nearly a week lost in a jungle during and surviving on puddle water.

Joel del Carmen Acosta Orama disappeared from his home 10 days ago. The nine-year-old was last seen playing with his two at his family's ranch in Palizada before vanishing into the nearby jungle, where he became lost.

The area was filled with dangerous creatures such as venomous snakes and crocodiles. The local authorities launched a huge search operation around a 30 mile area, where they picked up the tracks of the young boy and his dogs.

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However, shortly afterwards, Hurricane Milton hit the area and his footprints and scent were washed away. All hope seemed lost until one of his dogs unexpectedly returned to the ranch on October 9. The search team was then able to follow the animal's tracks to the boy's location.

After six days of searching, they found little Joel two days later. Police spokesperson Rafael Miranda Ortiz said it was a "miracle" they tracked him down.

He stated: "Joel left home in the middle of a hurricane, it's very surprising he survived. Now he will be able to face any challenge coming his way."

The little lad was found with signs of severe dehydration and malnutrition. Footage from the area showed the young boy standing barefoot in the overgrowth while wearing a T-shirt and shorts.

Joel, known in his village as 'Choco', was taken to a nearby health centre for medical attention. When asked how he managed to survive in the jungle, he said he followed the stars at night and drank water from puddles and streams.

After a week's worth of warnings and mass evacuations, the huge hurricane arrived in Florida on Thursday and , flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off a baseball stadium and toppled a construction crane. At least 16 people are confirmed to have died so far, with as authorities continue to survey the damage.

One man had a lucky escape with his life when they were found around 30 miles off Longboat Key, Florida. Coastguards discovered him clinging to an open cooler chest in the open sea, after falling from a fishing vessel which had got into difficulty the night before during the peak of the hurricane.

Coast guard official Dana Grady said: "This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner. To understand the severity of the hurricane conditions, we estimate he experienced approximately 75-90mph winds, 20-25ft seas, for an extended period of time to include overnight. 

"He survived because of a life jacket, his emergency position indicating locator beacon, and a cooler."