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Last updated on Friday, September 21, 2012
(COLUMBUS) - A former Columbus Marine is thanking first responders after he injured his leg while alone in the woods. 29-year-old Josh Smith was photographing coyotes in a remote section of Bartholomew County when he fell into a hole.
The father of two is now back on his feet after five frightening hours Sunday.
Smith, was photographing coyotes behind his home near Camp Atterbury.
He says he was walking through thick brush when he stepped in a two-foot hole. Believing he broke his ankle, he tried to use his cell phone to call for help, but there was no signal.
To cope with the pain he decided to close his eyes. Smith fell asleep. He woke three-and-a-half hours later.
Near midnight, Smith says he looked at his phone and saw 15 missed calls.
Smith called his father, who was with police. They told him to call 911 so medics could trace his call before his battery died. The 911 operator used the cell tower to give EMT and police his exact location.
Smith was found about 500-yards from his house. He credits the hard work of EMTs and the Bartholomew County Sheriffs office for finding him, and says for now he is taking a break from his nature photography and will always bring a fully charged cell phone when hiking.
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