On the evening of December 3, a missing hunter's ordeal in the woods of Lee, Massachusetts, came to an end thanks to the quick work of the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing. At about 7 p.m., the MSP Troop B dispatch put out a call for assistance to locate the 78-year-old hunter, who suffers from dementia. The hunter had entered the forest at 6 a.m. with his brother and failed to meet up as planned before dusk, according to a report by MSP News.

The lost individual had with him a radio rather than a cell phone, which allowed for intermittent contact with rescuers, yet finding his precise location proved elusive. Sergeant Tom Foley and Chief TFO Brian LeCLair, crew members of Air 4, launched from Lawrence Air Base and were pivotal in locating the subject within minutes of arriving.

Utilizing their bird's-eye view, the air crew was able to provide rescuers on the ground with detailed directions to navigate the challenging terrain. These instructions were essential in guiding teams to the missing man. Their effort in the dark, amid the stubborn wilderness, demonstrates the indispensable role technology and trained personnel play in modern search and rescue operations.

Success came shortly after 8 p.m. when the hunter was found, as reported by MSP News. He had been exposed to the elements for 15 hours, showing the dangers of such situations, especially for people with conditions like dementia.