PAYNETOWN – A female became lost after hiking in the area of Paynetown on State Road 446. The female was reported missing around 1 a.m. Monday morning on the Pate Hollow hiking trail.
First responders from Monroe Fire Protection District and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the area to help search for the missing woman.
Firefighters arrived in the area and trekked out on the trail in two different directions to attempt to locate the hiker. Dispatchers were able to stay in phone contact with the hiker the entire time helping to guide firefighters to her.
The hiker was also unable to yell for help so she was instructed to bang on a tree with a stick to help rescuers find her by the sound. Dispatchers continued to provide firefighters with coordinated updates and keep the lost hiker calm until firefighters arrived.
After approximately two hours of searching, firefighters located the hiker and were able to guide them out of the woods.
She was located, uninjured around 2:20 a.m. Monday morning.
