Lost Family Rescued from Circle B Bar Reserve as Storm, Darkness, and Alligators Closed In

A newsroom-style collage on a dark navy blue background shows two nighttime rescue scenes from Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland, Florida. The left image features a Polk County Sheriff's deputy carrying a young girl through heavy rain after a family became lost on the trails. The right image shows two smiling deputies standing in the rain near a patrol vehicle after the successful rescue, with flashing emergency lights illuminating the scene.

Lost Family Safely Rescued from Circle B Bar Reserve During Severe Storm

By Staff Reporter
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published June 29th, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. — What started as an evening walk through one of Polk County's most scenic nature preserves quickly turned into a stressful ordeal after a family became lost as darkness fell and severe weather moved into the area.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 9:08 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, the Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a woman who reported that she and her group had become lost while hiking at Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland.

The group consisted of two adults and two children.

As deputies responded alongside Polk County Fire Rescue, conditions continued to deteriorate. The sun had set, heavy rain moved into the area, and the family grew increasingly anxious—not only because they couldn't find their way out, but because they knew alligators were nearby on the trails.

Normally, deputies may use drones to help locate lost hikers, but the severe weather grounded aerial operations, forcing first responders to conduct the search on foot.

About 40 minutes after dispatch, Deputies Annucci and Toms, along with firefighters, successfully located the family and guided them to safety through the pouring rain.

One touching moment captured in photos released by the Sheriff's Office shows Deputy Annucci carrying one of the young girls through the wet conditions to help ensure everyone made it out safely.

A Polk County Sheriff's deputy carries a young girl to safety while leading a lost family through Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland during a nighttime rainstorm. First responders searched the preserve after the family became lost as severe weather moved into the area.

Deputy Carries Young Girl to Safety After Family Becomes Lost at Circle B Bar Reserve

Despite being drenched from the downpour, the outcome couldn't have been better.

Everyone was safely reunited and no injuries were reported.

While the situation ended on a positive note, it serves as a reminder that Florida's nature preserves can become dangerous after dark—especially during the summer rainy season. Heavy storms can arrive quickly, trails can become difficult to navigate, and wildlife such as alligators are common throughout the area.

As Sheriff Grady Judd's office often reminds residents and visitors alike, if you plan to explore Florida's parks and preserves, it's always a good idea to:

Let someone know where you're going.

Carry a fully charged cell phone.

Keep an eye on the weather.

Begin your hike early enough to finish before sunset.

Stay on marked trails whenever possible.

Sometimes, even a simple walk in nature can become an unexpected adventure. Thanks to the quick response from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Polk County Fire Rescue, this story had a happy ending—just with a lot more rain than anyone expected.

Photos: Polk County Sheriff's Office

iSkyNews.com | Trusted Local Coverage — Safety Creator and Contributing Journalist for Citizen

📲 Join and follow iSkyNews on Citizen: https://go.citizen.com/iskynews

Follow iSkyNews.com for breaking news, public safety updates, and community alerts across Florida and Arizona.

💬 See something we missed? Or have a news tip?
If you spot an error or have additional information, please reach out: support@iskynews.com