The man had been missing for 24 hours.
His rental car was found on site, but there was no sign of the hiker anywhere nearby.
A relentless search
Emergency services initially deployed a helicopter before calling in three-year-old search dog Trina and her handler, Officer Christopher Ross. Trina had already proven herself several times before by successfully tracking down missing people.
After searching for over seven hours, the Labrador Retriever finally located David about two miles away from his vehicle. He was lying on his back in the undergrowth, slightly off the trail. When rescuers reached him, Trina walked over and gently licked his hand, as if to let him know he was safe.
Overwhelmed with gratitude
David was taken straight to hospital, where he was treated for severe dehydration. Following the ordeal, David and his son expressed their heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in the search operation.
The hiker also formed a very special bond with Trina. His son even told the media that he would love to adopt her if she ever retired. Trina is a true hero, once again proving just how vital search dogs are. Well done on a fantastic job, Trina!
Translated from the FR Wamiz website using artificial intelligence
