A 76-year-old Vietnam War veteran who went missing in Arizona's rugged backcountry for four days has been rescued by his own son. Mark Young, a seasoned hiker, embarked on a solo camping trip on 16 April but became disoriented after his GPS lost signal. When he failed to appear for dinner the next evening, his family reported him missing, triggering a search by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
Young survived on limited supplies, including a compass, canteens, water purification pills and lighters. He battled dehydration, killed a rattlesnake, and sought shade under a cedar tree. Searchers, including his seven children who flew in from out of town, faced difficult terrain and encountered a mountain lion and a black bear. On 20 April, they heard faint cries for help but could not pinpoint his location due to wind and canyons.
Young's son Josh, using a satellite phone, eventually found his father about six miles from where Young's rented car was discovered. After a tearful reunion, a helicopter from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office airlifted Young to a hospital near Phoenix. He was dehydrated and had minor injuries but was otherwise in good condition, which his daughter Emily attributed to his physical and mental fitness.
In an interview, Young expressed profound gratitude, calling his rescue a 'miracle' and stating, 'Your faith and your hard work will be remembered as long as I live.' The sheriff's office released a statement from Josh thanking search crews for their perseverance, adding, 'My dad's life was worth saving.'
