A 75-year-old man who had been missing for four days after falling off a ledge was found in a bog by a game warden and his K-9, Maine officials said.
Michael Altmaier from New Sharon, Maine, hadn’t been seen since last Monday, when he left home for a meeting in Weld, a small town in the southwest part of the state, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife on social media. His car was later found by park staff at Mount Blue State Park Scenic Overlook in Weld.
The Maine Warden Service began searching for Altmaier on Friday morning. At around 3:45 p.m. local time, Game Warden Kayle Hamilton and his K-9, Ash, found Altmaier about 3/4 of a mile from where his car had been found, in a bog.
Officials believe Altmaier fell over a ledge on Monday and likely became disoriented.
Game wardens, search volunteers, and a paramedic reached Altmaier. They provided an initial assessment and first aid before a Maine Forest Service helicopter airlifted him to a waiting ambulance. Altmaier was taken to a local hospital, where he remained overnight.
Emergency rescue workers said Altmaier was “in surprisingly good condition despite spending the last 4 days lying in the bog area,” though the hospital hasn’t provided an update on his condition yet.