After hearing someone calling for help, team member Eric Wolterman raced toward the cry, climbed a steep hill and found Scott, who said, “Thank you so much. Will you give me a hug?” They embraced, and Eric said, “It was the best hug of our lives.”  With the assistance of a Kentucky State Police helicopter, the team hoisted Scott out. He was then taken by ambulance to the hospital. News of Scott’s miraculous rescue spread from Kentucky to news outlets around the globe. 

In July, the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team (WCSART) led a search for hiker Scott Hern who survived in the Gorge for 14 days, including 12 days without food or water. This was one of the most dramatic rescues in the team’s 20-year history. Here’s the inside story of what happened over five days of searching until team members found two crucial clues  — his shoe print and walking stick. The team continued searching the creek above Bell Falls when they heard a faint call for help.