Tennessee team heads to Alaska in search for missing hunter

DOVER, Tenn. (WTVF) — Extra assistance is on the way in which and nobody is giving up. The search continues for a Stewart County hunter who disappeared greater than per week in the past in distant Alaska.

A search and rescue crew from Center Tennessee is now headed up north to assist.

It simply does not make sense. Steve Keel is an skilled outdoorsman. He goes ready and there’s simply no rationalization for the way he disappeared with out a hint.

It is now been 11 days because the Marine veteran vanished from his campsite at Deadhorse in far northern Alaska. It’s rugged territory, however his spouse says nothing her husband could not deal with.

“I imply he is been within the woods out in terrain his whole life and also you ask anyone, Steve’s not a man to get misplaced,” stated Liz Keel.

Steve Keel was on a looking journey with long-time good friend Bryan Collins and had left to go accumulate some caribou meat, however by no means returned.

Searches on the bottom and from the air have to date turned up nothing.

Keel’s personal two grownup sons even flew out to assist look.

They’re again now, however this morning 4 others from Stewart County with search and rescue expertise boarded a airplane for Alaska to assist.

Every passing day with Keel lacking in such a distant a part of the world raises the query: can he nonetheless be alive?

“Everybody who is aware of him says he is powerful as a pine knot so he might survive. They are saying if anyone might survive this it might be Steve Keel,” stated his spouse.

The 4 from Tennessee shall be assisted by authorities in Alaska with plans to make use of canine on a grid search masking miles round Deadhorse.

The excellent news — is the climate this time of 12 months just isn’t but frigid … and the times should not but too brief.

So, what occurred to Keel?

Did the skilled outdoorsman get misplaced?

Was there an animal assault?

Did he fall in a ravine or obtained caught in a mud bathroom?

A medical emergency?

All choices stay on the desk.

Even after 11 days, authorities in Alaska proceed to name it a search and rescue operation — holding out hope Keel remains to be alive.