An 84-year-old man from Indian River County got lost while photographing the Fort Drum Marsh area but was safely rescued after a coordinated effort from local sheriff's offices and rescue teams. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), alongside the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO), responded to the incident, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando.
Drones and ground searches initially attempted to locate the photographer, but hours passed before he was found due to the thick brush and challenging terrain. According to WESH, the man became disoriented Sunday evening and wasn't rescued until the next morning. In the thick brush, the man was located by two sergeants who could not make their way back out in the dark.
BCSO's aviation unit played a crucial role in the rescue, with Chief Pilot Coppola assembling a team at Merritt Island rapidly in response to a request for help from the IRCSO. The rescuers found the man and sergeants in the woods just before sunrise yesterday.
A "screamer suit" was used to secure the elderly man for the airlift, which Aviation Mechanic Mike Ryle initiated to hoist him into the helicopter safely. The BCSO team then returned to extract the sergeants and the medic. Upon being hoisted aboard, the man was provided care at a nearby location by the Indian River County Fire Rescue before his hospitalization. Sheriff Ivey praised the professionalism and passion of the team involved in ensuring the man's safety.
