Ohio man missing for 2 weeks after going hiking searching for waterfalls found alive

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CAMPTON, Ky. ( WTRF ) — An Ohio man is lucky to be alive after he was reported missing when he went hiking looking for waterfalls.

A rescue team was able to find 48-year-old Scott Hern, of Ironton, in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.

It started when Wolfe County Search & Rescue received information that his vehicle was last seen at Tower Rock Parking along Highway 715 in the Red River Gorge.

Search crews were able to find a diary in which Hern wrote about the locations he wanted to explore at Red River Gorge and used it to their advantage.

Rescuers learned from his diary that he had visited Bell Falls along Highway 715. Although the falls had been previously checked and even some areas above the falls, the decision was made to continue north up the creek to clear the area completely. The search group found a shoe print and evidence of a walking stick in an area that few travel.

They continued pushing up the creek when they heard someone yell for help. The five-person team then worked for some time to locate Hern up a steep embankment below a cliff line.

An air evacuation was called in and Hern was taken to hospital for medical attention.

“It is truly a miracle that Mr. Hern was found after 14 days and 12 days without any food or water,” the rescue team said .

As of Monday, Hern is still in the hospital recovering but was allowed to start eating food. He isn’t able to walk on his own at this time, but officials are hopeful for the more positive news later.

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