The Red River Gorge rescue mission for a missing Ohio man garnered national attention after the multi-agency team successfully found him. Wolfe County Search and Rescue, led by Chief John May, initiated the search for 48-year-old Scott Hern on Tuesday and received assistance from other units throughout the week. During the mission, a member of the Wolfe team heard someone nearby and immediately questioned their presence. It was then that they discovered the missing man, on Saturday afternoon.
As soon as they heard him utter the name ‘Scott’, the team members dashed through the brush to reach his location. Witnessing this heartfelt moment was truly touching. When Eric, a member of the Wolfe County Search and Rescue team, finally got to him, he introduced himself and assured him that they were going to rescue him. Mr. Hern then asked Eric for a hug, which he willingly gave.
According to May, a parking lot near the Tower Rock trailhead was where a U.S. Forest Service employee spotted Hern on July 6th. A week later, the same vehicle was still parked there, prompting the employee to prepare a ticket for it. Upon running the license plate, it was discovered that it matched a missing persons report. May added that the search for Scott Hern involved over 50 individuals.
According to the speaker, the individual who discovered the lost person was a recently hired team member. The speaker believes that this occurrence reinforced the team’s dedication to their work and the importance of their rigorous training. The successful outcome of the search validated the team’s efforts and made it all worthwhile.
According to May, Hern was suffering from severe dehydration, and as a result, he had to be airlifted out by a Kentucky State Police helicopter. Eventually, he was transported to UK Chandler Hospital for further treatment. The Wolfe rescue squad’s Facebook page was updated on Monday, where Hern’s family shared a picture of him wearing a hospital gown, with a huge smile on his face.
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