Miracle as hiker, 48, is found alive after two weeks missing in Kentucky wilderness as rescuers reveal the clue that helped find him

A missing hiker was miraculously recovered live aft he vanished successful nan Kentucky wilderness - now rescuers person revealed nan clues that helped them find him. 

Scott Hern, 48, was past seen by his family successful Ohio connected July 4th earlier he went hiking successful nan Red River Gorge astir 100 miles distant nan adjacent day.

Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team said Hern's diary revealed he had antecedently visited Bell Falls on Highway 715 which led crews to revisit nan area connected Saturday.

During their hunt - astir 2 weeks aft he was reported missing - rescuers recovered a footwear people and grounds of a stepping stick. Then a faint sound was heard calling retired and Hern was located connected a steep embankment beneath a cliff line.

'It is genuinely a occurrence that Mr. Hern was recovered aft 14 days, and 12 days without immoderate nutrient aliases water. We were persistent successful our search, but dream was fading,' nan rescue group said.

His family told nan rescue squad that Hern had been visiting nan area nan past fewer months successful hunt of waterfalls and his diary indicated respective locations he planned to visit.

His conveyance was past seen astatine nan Tower Rock Parking area on Highway 715. Teams from Wolfe County Search and Rescue, Powell County Search and Rescue and Red STAR Wilderness EMS unsuccessfully searched nan rugged situation for 2 weeks.

Rescuers were opening to suffer dream of their treacherous two-week agelong hunt for Hern erstwhile they discovered signs of life connected Saturday.

'We were successful nan roughest terrain you could ideate and it's very vulnerable for anyone to moreover beryllium retired there. My squad spent hours bushwhacking successful our hunt area,' said rescuer Eric Wolterman.

'We stopped to regroup, and 1 of nan group connected nan squad heard a very faint noise. We paused and we shouted "who is that?" Thinking it was different hunt team. I past heard "help." We took disconnected successful nan direction.

'As we sewage person asked what his sanction was and he "Scott Hern" I person ne'er moved faster up elevation successful my full life.

'I was nan first 1 to get up to him and I said "my sanction is Eric, I'm pinch Wolfe County hunt and rescue, you are safe, we are going to get you retired of here. 

'He looked astatine maine and said "thank you truthful much. Will you springiness maine a hug." I sewage teary eyed, and gave him a large hug. I deliberation it was nan champion hug of some of our lives.'

Due to his location connected nan dense terrain, nan Kentucky State Police assisted successful a hoist operation.

Hern was put connected to an orangish stretcher and airlifted from nan distant location to nan University of Kentucky hospital.

On Sunday doctors allowed him to commencement eating food, though he still is not capable to locomotion connected his own.