Khaberni - A mountain outing turned into a tragic accident in the United States, after father Mika Smith (31 years old) forced his three children, aged 2, 4, and 8 years, to walk on a dangerous path during a 24-hour snowstorm, ignoring their pleas to go back, according to local authorities.
The children managed to survive barely after being found in a primitive shelter made of rocks and branches near the mountain's peak, but their health was in critical condition. The father now faces three charges of child torture and three charges of mistreatment.
Children’s screams and father's disregard
During the trip, the eldest daughter asked her father, "Will we die from freezing?" but the father refused to respond, saying according to documents: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity", and in another instance, he said: "You will not make it," clearly ignoring the children’s warnings.
Warnings from his wife to no avail
Mika Smith's wife sent text messages warning of the dangers and asking him to return before dark. However, he insisted on continuing the journey despite the worsening weather conditions, increasing hail, and rain, and later sent a picture of the children surrounded by rocks and snow, according to a report by the "Mirror" site.
Children collapse amid a challenging path
The journey began on the notoriously difficult Broads Fork trail, which rises 2100 feet over five miles, in tough conditions that included fog, rain, and hail. The children had to climb rocks and cling to bushes, and the food brought by the father ran out.
By evening, the two-year-old child lost consciousness after falling, the four-year-old became extremely cold and stopped breathing several times, and the father and daughter had to perform CPR, while the daughter tried to keep her siblings alive by hugging and administering first aid.
The rescue team met the father at dawn the next day walking alone, and he told them that one of his children had died. However, the three children were found hidden behind rocks and branches, where the two younger ones were unconscious and in critical condition, while the girl was in a relatively stable condition. It was later revealed that the four-year-old had a clot that required the removal of part of his skull after his temperature dropped to 15.9 degrees Celsius.
Long-term psychological shock
Mental health experts warn that the children have endured deep trauma that will leave long-lasting effects, including nightmares, hyper-vigilance, difficulty in trusting adults, and a continuous fear of harsh weather, in addition to potential disorders in sibling relationships, according to psychologist John Eastham.
The Smith family stated in an official press release: "The family is saddened and requests privacy during this difficult time. Our efforts are now focused on supporting Mika, Samantha, and the children in their recovery journey, and the children have started to gradually improve."
