– It is truly a miracle that he was found after 14 days, and after 12 days without any food or water, the rescue service writes on its Facebook page. RUGGED: Thick tree trunks and dense vegetation show something of how rugged the area is. The image from the search operation has been shared by the rescue service. Photo: Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team / Facebook The man was hiking in the Red River Gorge, a natural area characterized by steep cliffs and rugged terrain. The area is located in the middle-east of Kentucky in the USA, right next to a national park. The 48-year-old from Ohio had told his family he was going on a trip to look for waterfalls. Dense VEGETATION: One of the search crews pictured in action on a steep hill. Photo: Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team / facebook But the family had not seen him since July 5, and his car had been in the parking lot in the area since July 6, when he was reported missing. Extensive search The volunteer rescue service in the area, the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team, is among those who have been looking for the man. They, and other rescue agencies, have had crews, helicopters and dogs involved in the search. DOG PATROL: Four-legged animals also joined the search in the Red River Gorge. This is among the photos that have been shared. Photo: Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team / Facebook Saturday was supposed to be their last day of searching – which also yielded results. Volunteer Erik Wolterman was the first to arrive at the missing person. Expected sad news On Monday, he says on the rescue service’s Facebook page that he thought the missing person’s family was going to get very sad news that day. – We had been searching since Tuesday, and most of us started the day with the idea that this was going to be about retrieving a deceased person. SEARCH AREA: This graphic representation has been made by the rescue service of the area in which they carried out various searches. Where there is a picture of a helicopter, he was flown out. Graphic: Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team / Facebook In very difficult terrain Wolterman describes as “very dangerous for everyone”, they eventually found footprints by a creek. Then they also found traces of a walking stick. One of the team members heard a very faint sound and they called out for who it was. – Then I heard “help! says Wolterman. He believes he has never climbed a hill so quickly before. The 48-year-old was on a steep hill, under a cliff. MANUAL POWER: The missing person was carried part of the way on an orange stretcher. Photo: Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team / FACEBOOK The first thing he said to the missing person was: – You are safe and we will get you out of here. – He looked at me and said: “Thank you very much.” Can you give me a hug?” I got tears in my eyes and gave him a big hug. I think it was the best hug in both of our lives, says Wolterman. The crew first had to drag the Ohio man through a wooded area, before he was flown out by helicopter by the Kentucky State Police. FLEW OUT: The state police in Kentucky were contacted to get the 48-year-old transported to health care as quickly as possible. Photo: Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team / Facebook The Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team has shared many photos and updates from the search operation on social media. However, they do not write how the missing person got lost, whether he fell, how he managed, or how the man was when he was found. In the comments section on Facebook, many people ask how the missing person could have survived. CBS News is among those who have covered the case. On Sunday, they had no information about the man’s state of health. Published 22.07.2024, at 22.08
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Missing hiker in Kentucky found alive after two weeks without food and water – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
