MSP Air Wing Finds Missing Hunter

At approximately 7 p.m. on December 3, Troop B Dispatch requested the Air Wing to help locate a 78-year-old missing hunter with dementia in Lee. The Hunter walked into the woods at 6 a.m. with his brother and planned to meet up before dusk. At approximately 3 p.m. the brother reported him missing. The hunter did not have a cell phone but was in contact with the rescuers via a radio. Although he was in contact with rescuers, he was unable to tell them exactly where he was. The crew of Air 4, Sergeant Tom Foley and Chief TFO Brian LeCLair, responded from the Lawrence Air Base. Upon arriving on scene, the air crew located the subject within minutes. They subsequently provided detailed directions, from the air, to guide rescuers through tough and rugged terrain to the missing man. The man was located at shortly after 8 p.m., at which point he had been exposed to the elements for 15 hours.