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Successful rescue of teenage hikers at Thousand Hills State Park
Posted: 02.28.2011 at 1:49 PM
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THOUSAND HILLS STATE PARK, ADAIR CO., MO. --
The Adair County Sheriff’s Office was involved in the successful rescue of two lost teenage hikers in Thousand Hills State Park Sunday evening. Around 6 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the park on State Highway 157.
After arriving, deputies spoke with the Park’s Superintendent and Mrs. Vaneta McKim, the mother of one of the lost boys.
McKim stated that her 15-year-old son, Jeremiah, and a 15-year-old friend of his, Daniel Ferdig, had become lost and disoriented while hiking the State Park’s 13-mile trail. The boys had a cell phone and had made telephone contact with Mrs. McKim and advised her of their situation.
Deputies were able to contact the boys by cell phone and were able to determine their location as being along the shoreline of the park’s lake and that they could see the park’s lodge and marina area from where they were.
While talking to the teenagers on their cell phone, the deputies crossed the lake and were able to locate the boys. The boys were placed into life vests and then taken back across the lake to where Adair County Ambulance District paramedics were standing by to assess the teenagers’ medical condition.
The Sheriff’s Office felt that the rescue was successful due in large part to the fact that the hikers had taken a cell phone with them and that they were able to provide landmark locations which assisted in their rescue. All hikers are encouraged to carry communications, first-aid supplies and some amount of food when hiking. And, always let others know where you will be hiking and a time for when you expect to complete your hike.
Cpl. Eldon Grissom, an off-duty Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper, also responded to the park with his personal boat to assist with the rescue.
Information provided by Adair County Sheriff’s Office