Lost Hunter Was Hypothermic but Safe After Cold, Rainy Ordeal

A 73-year old lost hunter was reported in fair and stable condition at Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth after he was located by search and rescue teams early Sunday morning.

Sgt. Kent Sisson with Chelan County Sheriff’s Office says David Sargent of Marysville, WA was reported missing about 9:30pm Saturday night when he did not arrive at a rendezvous point with other members of his hunting party before nightfall. Sargent had planned to hike a loop off of Forest Service Road 6306 in the Meadow Creek area at about 5:00pm
When Sargent did not return, two family members searched for him but could maintain only intermittent radio contact. Sargent indicated he was lost on an overgrown, primitive road. Sisson said the Sargent had no flashlight or survival gear.

Search teams including personnel from Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue(LWFR) the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and
Chelan County Volunteer Search & Rescue began focusing on several spur roads off of the main USFS Road 6306. One LWFR team was able to reach Sargent by radio and asked him to fire a round from his rifle so his position could be triangulated. That procedure helped searchers narrow the targeted search areas.

Sargent was located just before 2:30am Sunday on an overgrown portion of USFS 6306-400 road by a SAR deputy. He was reported to be hypothermic, soaking wet from overnight rainfall and suffering from low blood sugar. He was transported by ATV to the search and rescue base camp for a brief reunion with family members and then hospitalized at Cascade Medical Center.

Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue coordinators would like to remind hunters to always carry the ten essentials of survival while hiking; water, food, light, a map, shelter, fire starter, navigation tools, extra clothing and prescribed medications.