Law enforcement rescue 80-year-old man lost in the woods after 12-hour search - UpNorthLive.com

CRAWFORD COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- An 80-year-old man is safe tonight, but it was a different situation just 24 hours ago, as of Friday.

He was in the woods in Crawford County and in need of being rescued.

Help came on the ground from the sheriff's office, and from the sky in a tool that's simply called “Trooper 3.”

Finding this lost hiker in this video, is pretty easy. Finding them from this perspective, not so much.

It's literally hard to see the forest through all the trees, and even harder to find an 80-year-old man who should have been home hours earlier.

"He had dinner plans with a neighbor of his, and when he didn't show up for dinner,” Crawford County Detective Sergeant Matt Swope said. “She had contacted us sometime and I have a great timeline on exactly when he actually went at a local ski hill. And she went there and his vehicle was still there. So, naturally after dinner, she was concerned."

Getting lost in woods this is pretty easy, finding someone lost in woods like this is awfully hard.

So, Thursday when it was reported a man was missing near M-93 and Old Lake Road in Grayling, the Crawford County Sheriff's Office got going...and got a lot of help finding him.

"It was fantastic. The director of operations for Hanson Hills made a text and he came out immediately he was there for the entire duration of the investigation,” Swope said. “He is familiar with all the trails and everything. So that was a that was a huge help. We were assisted by multiple agencies. This was a joint effort and that's exactly what was needed."

Hours were spent combing the woods from the group, but with the clock ticking, temperatures dropping, and concerns growing, a call was made to Flint to get a different perspective thanks to a chopper called Trooper 3.

"This time of year for the helicopter, which we used last night for the 80-year-old man, is invaluable because the heat sensors,” MSP Public Information Officer Lieutenant Derrick Carroll said. “The thermal imaging and they can actually see the body you know the person out there."

While Trooper 3 makes finding a person dramatically easier, the technology doesn't replace good old fashion footwork, but it can make a lifesaving difference.

"We would emphasize that the majority of work is being done by the ground people. They're out there. boots on the ground making trying to find this person,” Carroll said. “They are just another tool that this case was very useful in finding the person."

And finding people, finally being able to reunite them is....

“Beautiful,” Swope said. “It is it really is and that's the best outcome. Like I said the weather wasn't great. Yesterday could have ended in a grim situation. Nobody wants to see that. So, this is the best possible outcome.”

With the start of firearm deer season, search teams want to remind everyone headed out to let people know what your plans are, where you are headed, when you expect to be back.

And don't go out into the woods without being prepared to actually get lost, bring extra clothes and charge your phone.

source: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/law-enforcement-rescue-80-year-old-man-lost-in-the-woods

Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.