HCSO use drone to find missing elderly hiker

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A drone helped track down a 72-year-old hiker near the Blue Hole Monday.

Hamilton County dispatchers received an SOS signal about a mile from the entrance in a wooded area.

An elderly man was hiking when he slide down a ravine and couldn’t get out.

Multiple agencies worked to rescue him including Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services, Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department, Tennessee State Parks, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

The Hamilton County Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Team used this drone to find him.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office use drone to find missing elderly hiker near the Blue Hole. Image courtesy of HCSO.

First responders were able to find the man shortly after that.

No injuries were reported.

Sheriff Austin Garrett says this device is a game changer for rescue operations. “The speed and precision with which our UAS Team can locate individuals in challenging terrain significantly enhances our ability to respond effectively and save lives,” said Garrett.