USCG release – WARRENTON, Ore. – A Coast Guard aircrew found a missing hiker, Tuesday morning, Sept. 25, while assisting local first responders in search efforts for a missing man in Wahkiakum County. After flying for about 30 minutes, the aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River spotted the 52-year-old missing man on a logging road under deep forest cover using the helicopter’s Electro-Optical Sensor System and lowered an aviation survival technician to the hiker to verify his identity and assess his condition. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center requested assistance from Sector Columbia River at 12:50 a.m. for a first light search. The aircrew launched at 6:45 a.m. and arrived on scene 10 minutes later and after flying for an additional 20 minutes the aircrew spotted the missing hiker waving a coat in the air. The man reportedly became separated from his father at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s conducted searches of the area through midnight and requested air support for a morning search during daylight.
