A 48-year-old man named Scott Hern was found alive after being missing in the Kentucky wilderness for 14 days, in what rescuers are calling a miracle. The Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team had been searching for Hern since July 16, when he was last seen on Tower Rock Trail in Daniel Boone National Forest. The team found a shoe print and evidence of a walking stick near Bell Falls, leading them to locate Hern up a steep embankment below a cliff line. Hern had gone 12 days without food or water, but was found and airlifted to a hospital where he was discharged and is currently recovering at home.
One of the rescuers, Eric Wolterman, shared his experience of finding Hern and the emotional moment of giving him a hug after hearing him cry out for help in the wilderness. Hern is still weak and struggling to walk and talk, but he has started consuming solid food as he continues his recovery. The chief of the rescue team, John May, expressed surprise at finding Hern alive given his lack of experience and supplies as a new hiker. The family of Hern is grateful for the support received during the search, and Governor Andy Beshear commended the rescue team for their efforts.
Overall, Hern’s survival after being lost in the wilderness for two weeks is being hailed as a remarkable outcome and a testament to the dedication and persistence of the search and rescue team.
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