An 81-year-old woman in Michigan who was lost for more than 20 hours in the woods behind her home was rescued by a Michigan State Police trooper and his K9 partner, Loki. The search was initiated after a family member reported her missing around 10 p.m. the night before. She was known to have mobility issues and relied on a cane for walking.
The trooper and K9 Loki were summoned to the scene in Ogemaw County's Richland Township, where they discovered her mobility scooter, along with her coat, purse, and cellphone left behind, as reported CBS News Detroit. Loki then tracked her scent through the woods, eventually finding a pair of gloves and the woman's cane, leading into a steep ravine. Not far beyond these items, Loki located the woman at the base of the ravine, "unable to move," as described in a statement made by the State Police officials.
The successful rescue was aided by Ogemaw County EMS and the Richland Township Fire Department, who helped in carrying the woman out of the woods. This took place just before a heavy rainstorm hit the area, as per a news release from WWJ Newsradio. The woman recounted to officials that she had been lost since the previous night, with her ordeal lasting approximately 20 hours.
Loki's keen tracking skills have been highlighted in the past, with the K9 being credited for locating at least two other missing individuals in difficult conditions over the recent years. He had previously found a missing 3-year-old in June 2023 and an 80-year-old disoriented hunter, in November 2022. These instances were noted in an article by abc12. Michigan State Police have not released details on any injuries the woman may have sustained during her time lost in the woods.
