Search teams find missing 82-year-old Harrison County man in woods

An 82-year-old Harrison County man was found safe Tuesday afternoon after wandering away from his home and going missing for nine hours.

Authorities found him in a swampy, wooded area using helicopters, drones, K9s, and search and rescue computer programs.

The search effort involved Harrison County Fire Rescue, Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department along with technical help from Biloxi Fire Department. Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said, “We went to the area that the person was last seen and started doing a search of the area. After about 30 minutes to 45 minutes of searching the area, one of the dogs was able to scent the individual in the woods and started going to his location. He was able to be found in the woods probably a half a mile from the house.”

Paramedics from Harrison County Fire Rescue treated the man on the scene and he was then taken to a local hospital to be checked.