It’s a simple, discreet gesture that can save lives. In Kentucky, a 16-year-old girl who went missing last Tuesday was rescued by authorities two days later after she managed to alert a motorist with a distress hand signal popularized on TikTok, announced the sheriff from Laurel County on Friday. Her 61-year-old kidnapper was charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement and possession of a sexual image involving a minor over 12 years old.
A motorist behind the suspect’s vehicle noticed that the passenger “was making a known hand sign on the TikTok platform to represent domestic violence and to signal ‘I need help'”, said the sheriff. . The witness then called the authorities who were able to intercept the suspect vehicle at a motorway exit.
Awareness campaign
On the ABC channel, Sheriff John Root demonstrated this signal, which is done in two stages and can be repeated: the thumb is folded over the palm, then the other four fingers close over the thumb. According to him, the young girl was lucky that the Good Samaritan identified this still little known gesture.
Sheriff John Root (Kentucky) demonstrated on ABC the gesture that allowed the kidnapped teen to silently call for help #SignalforHelp pic.twitter.com/89m6CR8qky
– Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) November 8, 2021
Last year, the Canadian Women’s Foundation conducted a large campaign on TikTok and YouTube to popularize this gesture, which can be used in particular during a video call with a loved one, to silently call for help. By being careful to do it without attracting attention, especially as it becomes universal.