A missing 70-year-old hiker has been miraculously found alive after being lost for five days in the scorching heat of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He tells how he survived.
Warren Elliott disappeared last week after going for a walk from his campsite in Rubicon Springs.
The experienced hiker took a wrong turn and got lost around 3pm on Friday afternoon when temperatures rose to 32 degrees Celsius. To survive, he drank from the nearby river and ate berries.
He was spotted by another hiker on Wednesday morning while walking along the Hell Hole Reservoir in California.
Missing hiker Warren Elliott, 70, has been miraculously found alive after being lost for five days in the scorching heat of the Sierra Nevada mountains
A dramatic video shows the moment an exhausted and neglected Elliott is reunited with his overjoyed family.
We see the senior citizen stepping out of a helicopter to cheers and applause, before being given back his beloved cowboy hat.
Elliott was in the area restoring the track in preparation for the Jeepers Jamboree car event.
His disappearance led to a massive manhunt, with around 100 searchers from 10 different agencies on the road every day.
Blackhawk helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and dog units were deployed to assist in the search.
After being spotted, the beloved senior was airlifted to safety by helicopter to the command center at Homewood Mountain Resort.
Elliott disappeared last week after hiking from his campsite in Rubicon Springs, but has since been reunited with his family
His disappearance led to a massive manhunt, with around 100 searchers from 10 agencies on the road every day.
The experienced hiker took a wrong turn around 3pm on Friday and got lost as the mercury rose to 32 degrees Celsius
“From where he was last seen, near Cadillac Hill, to the area where he was found, Hell Hole Reservoir, is approximately 9 miles (14 kilometers) as the crow flies. However, he has traveled much further over the course of five days,” the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
‘Mr Elliott was not injured and is in good spirits. This is a huge relief to Mr Elliott’s family and friends.
‘A sincere thank you to all the search and rescue teams who have been working tirelessly from across the state.
‘We are also very grateful to Jeepers Jamboree for their support and hospitality to our search teams. They provided food, drinks and a place to stay overnight.’