FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Teamwork Leads to Rescue of Lost Man in Oakman
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
On Monday evening, November 13, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing 33 year old man from an Apple Road address near Oakman. He’d last been seen around dusk at his home, and there was no evidence of foul play. This man was described to emergency personnel as having health issues which required daily medication, and also lacking cold weather clothing. Gordon County Fire-Rescue personnel, Emergency Medical Service personnel, and deputy sheriffs responded and immediately initiated a ground search. A GCSO tracking canine was deployed, as was an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with a thermocam. The search of nearby areas, in darkness and rugged terrain, continued until midnight. However, the man could not be found in the darkness and staff members on foot were recalled. Deputies continued concentrated patrols all about the area throughout the night hours. At daylight the next morning, November 14, emergency services personnel from Gordon County Fire-Rescue, Calhoun Fire-Rescue, Advent Health EMS, and deputy sheriffs all returned to the Apple Road area to continue the search. GCSO canines were again on hand and the UAV was deployed once more. The emergency services got a break in the case about 9am when Fire-Rescue personnel discovered that the missing man had been filmed by a hunter’s ‘trail camera’ in the vicinity around 4am that morning. This information was relayed to all personnel which allowed the search to be narrowed and more concentrated. Within an hour, the missing man was located by Fire-Rescue personnel in dense woods. He was checked by EMS and was unharmed. He was then safely returned to his family.
Sheriff Ralston commended all of the public safety agencies and personnel who were able to swiftly and safely resolve a very dangerous situation. “I’m very proud to work alongside these dedicated and professional individuals who not only keep us safe, but never rest until the job is done.”