Florida Police Use Helicopter to Locate Lost Hiker and Two Dogs

Police in Riverview, Florida, used a helicopter to find and rescue a man who had gotten lost in a park with his two dogs on Thursday, September 14, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

In the audio of this footage released by the sheriff’s office, the “distressed” man told dispatchers he was unable to find his way back to his car, but provided the name of the park he was in. The helicopter can be seen flying over the area and zeroing in on the man and his dogs.

“With help from patrol and aviation units, a deputy rappelled from the helicopter and used a radio to lead the lost hiker to safety,” the sheriff’s office said. Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office via Storyful

Video transcript

[STATIC]

- 9-1-1, do you need police, fire, or medical?

- Yes, sir. I'm a diabetic. I'm lost in--

- I'm sorry. I can barely hear you.

- I'm diabetic. And I'm lost in the woods.

- All right, just--

- I'm in Worthington Park.

- OK. All right. I'm getting help out to you. Now, with you being diabetic, do you need medical care right away?

- No.

- OK.

- I don't need medical care away.

- Gotcha.

- But you just come find me.

- And do you know which park you're in?

- I think it's called Sam Worthman's Park, off of Route--

- All right. Just a moment.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

[DIGITAL BEEP]

- (OVER RADIO) All right, Hillsborough. They're at the east end of Silver Pine Drive, right at the preserve.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- I hear a helicopter.

- You hear the helicopter? Are you able to walk out to an open spot, for them to see you?

- Yes.

- OK. Go ahead and walk out to the open spot. And see if you can see them. OK?

- Yeah, I see them. Yeah. Thank you. All right.

- Are you able to see the helicopter?

- Yes, sir.

- OK. They see you. OK?

- [RADIO COMMUNICATION]

- [RADIO COMMUNICATION]

- (OVER RADIO) Check with EMS. They're staging at the dead end for the park, north of where we're at. I don't know if they have the updated information. But they look like they're going for the one that's attached to Rogers Middle School.