73-year-old hiker found alive after he was missing for a week in California wilderness
The search for a 73-year-old hiker who went missing in a California forest came to an end Saturday with good news.
The Special Enforcement Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department tweeted that Eugene Jo was safely located and being airlifted to a hospital.
He was reported missing on June 22 near Mount Waterman in the Angeles National Forest after his hiking group realized they lost track of him, according to KABC.
Search team reports they have found 73 year old Mr Jo, after a week in the wilderness, he is alive! No other details yet..@SEBLASD@LASDHQ@CVLASD@LasdSar
— Montrose Search & Rescue Team (Ca.) (@MontroseSAR) June 29, 2019
Jo told rescuers he had not eaten in at least five days and was living off water out of the Devils Canyon creek, according to the Montrose Search and Rescue Team. The temperatures in the area were said to be mild and the water levels were up because of heavier rainfall.
His rescue was the third in the past two weeks in which county search teams have been called out to look for missing hikers.
“People always ask us why we volunteer countless hours of training and callout to help people that we don’t even know,” the Montrose search team said. “This is why.....the best possible outcome.”
