NewsLocal News

Actions

Missing man rescued after 4 nights on mountain above Strawberry Reservoir

Posted at 1:49 PM, Mar 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-13 23:41:00-04

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah – 60-year-old David Hales, is recovering after he was stranded for four nights on the mountain above Strawberry Reservoir near Heber.

Authorities said the man had gone snowmobiling Friday and was reported missing when he never returned.

The search started Monday night.

Wasatch County Search and Rescue found him and got him to safety Tuesday afternoon.

"When we flew around he was right there in front of us," said volunteer search and rescue pilot Brian Rowser, one of two pilots. "We are both just like, 'there he is.' He was standing at that time and waiving pretty slowly, and as we approached he was waiving come down, come down,"

Deputies with the Wasatch County Sheriff's Department say Hales had left his home at Timberline Estates, East of Heber, with the intent of taking the snowmobile out for a test drive. He headed in the direction of Strawberry Reservoir. However, they believe he ran out of gas somewhere along the way.

After Rowser spotted him on the ground, he had to take the helicopter up to higher altitude to notify other rescue personnel.

"As we flew up and away, he fell forward into the snow and never got up again," Rowser said. "He was extremely exhausted.”

He was flown to the hospital in good condition.
Summit County Search and Rescue and the Department of Public Safety helped with the rescue.