Miracle as hiker, 48, is found alive after two weeks missing in Kentucky wilderness as rescuers reveal the clue that helped find him
A missing hiker has miraculously been found alive after disappearing in the Kentucky wilderness. Now, rescuers have revealed the clues that helped them find him.
Scott Hern, 48, was last seen by his family in Ohio on July 4, before going hiking the next day in the Red River Gorge, nearly 100 miles away.
Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team According to Hern, his diary revealed he had previously visited Bell Falls along Highway 715, leading crews to revisit the area on Saturday.
During their search – about two weeks after he was reported missing – rescuers found a shoe print and evidence of a walking stick. Then a faint sound was heard calling and Hern was found on a steep slope below a cliff.
“It is truly a miracle that Mr. Hern was found after 14 days, and 12 days without food or water. We persisted in our search, but hope disappeared,” the rescue group said.
Scott Hern (pictured), 48, was found alive after being missing for two weeks in the Red River Gorge
Rescuers used clues Hern left in his diary to search an area near Bell Falls along Highway 715, where they found him
His family told the rescue team that Hern had been visiting the area in recent months in search of waterfalls and his diary listed several locations he planned to visit.
His vehicle was last seen in the Tower Rock parking lot along Highway 715. Teams from Wolfe County Search and Rescue, Powell County Search and Rescue and Red STAR Wilderness EMS searched the rugged area for two weeks to no avail.
Rescue workers were beginning to lose hope after their two-week perilous search for Hern when they discovered signs of life on Saturday.
“We were in the roughest terrain you can imagine and it’s very dangerous for anyone to be out there at all. My team spent hours slogging through the brush in our search area,” said rescuer Eric Wolterman.
“We stopped to regroup and one of the people on the team heard a very faint noise. We paused and yelled, ‘Who’s that?’ thinking it was another search party. Then I heard, ‘Help.’ We headed off in that direction.
‘As we got closer we asked what his name was and he said, “Scott Hern.” I’ve never gone up a mountain that fast in my entire life.
Rescuers found a shoe print and evidence of a walking stick in the area, then heard a faint sound calling to them and found Hern on a steep slope below a cliff.
Due to its location in the tough terrain, Kentucky State Police assisted in a hoisting operation
“I was the first one to walk up to him and said, ‘My name is Eric, I work for Wolfe County Search and Rescue, you’re safe, we’re going to get you out of here.’
“He looked at me and said, ‘Thank you. Will you give me a hug?’ I got tears in my eyes and I gave him a big hug. I think it was the best hug of our lives.”
Because he was in a difficult area, the Kentucky State Police assisted with a winch operation.
Hern was placed on an orange stretcher and flown from the remote location to the University of Kentucky Hospital.
On Sunday, the doctors allowed him to eat again, although he still cannot walk on his own.