Using Drones, ATV's And A Chopper, Woman Lost and Stuck In Florida Wetlands Rescued
FORT MYERS (CBSMiami/AP) — A woman who went missing while hiking in the vast marshland of a Florida state park, was found alive and well on Saturday after an hours long search by numerous rescue agencies.
The various agencies were deployed to the 11,000-acre Estero Bay Preserve State Park on the Gulf Coast south of Fort Myers.
The Iona McGregor Fire District says the woman was out hiking with her husband Friday, but the man had gotten tired and had decided to return while she kept going and got lost.
After hours of searching using drones, a helicopter, ATV's, and walking search patterns, the woman was found around 10:50 p.m. on Friday night, in one of the deepest, marshiest areas of the preserve. When rescuers found her, she was alert and conscious. However, they weren't able to get her out of the preserve until 1:30 a.m.
She was taken out by helicopter and rushed to a local hospital to be checked out.
Here is a short clip of the moment crews were able to safely rescue a woman from the Estero Bay Preserve via helicopter. Update on the turn of events that took place yesterday: A husband and wife went on a nature walk. The husband got tired and came out of the preserve. His wife wanted to keep walking a while longer and that's when she become lost. She is ok and we are so grateful for the dedication of all agencies involved in this search & rescue mission. The following agencies were on scene assisting: Lee County Sheriff's Office FWC LEE County EMS South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District Estero Fire Rescue Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Tice Fire & Rescue District Cape Coral Fire Department North Collier Fire Rescue District Fort Myers Beach Fire District Sanibel Fire Rescue District San Carlos Park Fire Protection & Rescue Service District United States Coast Guard Florida State Parks
Posted by Iona McGregor Fire District on Saturday, April 23, 2022
State authorities caution that the trails along coastal marshes in the preserve are rugged and seasonally flooded.
(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)