Drone Thermal image finds lost boy in the mountains

MURPHY, North Carolina (WDEF) – Rescuers are crediting drone technology for a successful recovery of a lost teen in the North Carolina mountains.

Officials say the juvenile got lost Monday evening after wandering from his home near the Tennessee and North Carolina line.

Rescuers from Copper Basin to Hiwassee Dam took part in the search.

But they soon called on the drone team in Hamilton County for help.

The drones from Chattanooga joined the West Polk drone to search a grid area.

Eventually, one of the Hamilton County drones got a thermal image of the youth laying in a fetal position in the woods.

They were able to mark the GPS coordinates and rescuers found the youth in the spot.

Officials with the Hiwassee Dam Fire Department summed up the drones’ help by saying  “This is amazing technology.”

area of the search