7/6/2009 10:51:00 PM YCSO rescue teams find lost hiker
Special to The Courier
After an 8.5-hour search Wednesday, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office rescue teams found a 41-year-old Spring Valley resident who was lost in the desert between Anthem and Black Canyon City.
YCSO said in a Monday press release that when rescuers found Matthew Blondin, he was severely dehydrated, had little muscular coordination and required assistance during the walk back to a waiting jeep.
The jeep took him to a landing zone and a DPS helicopter flew him to a Phoenix hospital where doctors kept him overnight for observation, then released him the next day, the release said.
YCSO received a call from Blondin's mother at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday saying her son was lost and hadn't had water since 8:30 a.m.
Because of the elapsed time and because temperatures in the area would reach 110 degrees, YCSO immediately launched a rescue operation involving 29 members of five YCSO rescue teams, including YCSO's air group, jeep posse, response team, incident command team, 4x4 unit and quad unit. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office also had its search and rescue team operating inside that county.
Blondin had abandoned his mother's disabled minivan somewhere between Anthem and Table Mesa Road off of Interstate 17, the release said.
Blondin told his mother he was on a mountainside and could see Black Canyon City. Blondin was on an all terrain vehicle, which he had unloaded from the minivan.
He had set out northbound in anticipation of reaching Mayer by traveling back roads.
He had a cell phone but when authorities tried to call him, the call went directly to voice mail, the release said.
At approximately 9:15 p.m. members of the YCSO jeep posse contacted Blondin when he responded to the team's yells and whistles. The team found him a few minutes later by following his ATV tracks and footprints up a narrowing trail.
The next day, Phoenix police found the minivan abandoned at a location in Anthem.
YCSO rescue professionals remind people who get lost to remain stationary and allow rescue personnel the time to come to you. Always carry a fully charged cell phone and consider bringing along a charged back-up battery. Also bring plenty of water and if you do become lost, call authorities immediately.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Breezy Jack
If I ever get lost, I sure hope it's in Yavapai County!
