Ohio hiker missing 2 weeks found alive in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge

CAMPTON, Kentucky — A southern Ohio man who had been missing for two weeks after going hiking in the Daniel Boone National Forest was found alive.

Scott Hern, 48, had last been seen on July 6 before his rescue, according to the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team. He is still recovering at UK Hospitals in Lexington, a news release says.

“It is truly a miracle that Mr. Hern was found after 14 days and 12 days without any food or water,” says a post from the search team on social media. “We were persistent in our search, but hope was fading.”

Hern had not told anyone he intended to go hiking in the Red River Gorge Area of the forest but he had been seen looking for directions on how to locate Sal Branch Waterfalls, the search team says.

After he was reported missing, his vehicle was found near the head of the Tower Rock Trail. Family members said his diary indicated several locations he planned to visit.

Twenty-five people from Wolfe County Search & Rescue, Powell County Search & Rescue, Red STAR Wilderness EMS and two canine units from Hunter Hounds searched for Hern for several days over rugged terrain, officials say. Despite receiving tips on his possible location, searchers were unable to find him.

On Saturday, the rescue team decided to again search near the falls area Hern had been searching for a located a walking stick and found a shoe print. A short time later they heard Hern yelling for help, the search team says.

Eric Wolterman, a member of the Wolfe County rescue team, says in a post on social media that the discovery of Hern was an emotional moment because searchers had begun to fear he was dead.

“I was the first one to get up to him and I said ‘My name is Eric, I’m with Wolfe County search and rescue, you are safe, we are going to get you out of here,’” Wolterman said. “He looked at me and said “Thank you so much. Will you give me a hug?’ I got teary-eyed and gave him a big hug. I think it was the best hug of both of our lives.”

Kentucky State Police used a helicopter and a hoist to rescue Hern and take him to a hospital. He reportedly was dehydrated and covered in dirt.

“It was a miracle, absolutely,” John May, the chief of the Wolfe County Search & Rescue, tells the Ironton Tribune. “People don’t live that long in the back country without food and water.”