CASPER, Wyo. — A person described as a male juvenile with a cognitive disability was rescued after becoming separated from a group at the Rim Campground on Muddy Mountain on Friday, Aug. 5.
According to a release from the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office, the call came in just before 2 p.m., about an hour after the individual left the group.
After a deputy arrived for information, Natrona County Emergency Management staff arrived and launched a “coordinated Search and Rescue” operation that included resources from the sheriff’s office Search and Rescue, a Casper Police Department Drone Operator, the Casper Mountain Fire Department, and numerous BLM Fire personnel.
The search was launched as the National Weather Service in Riverton was reporting concern of serious thunderstorms with strong gusts developing over the area.
After rescuers had determined the individual was heading south, a Wyoming National Guard Blackhawk helicopter with ground and air crews was deployed from Cheyenne.
A tracking team with K-9 officers briefed the helicopter crew and determined the individual was running away from searchers in heavily wooded areas “likely due to the extremely stressful nature of the situation and the cognitive disabilities of the missing juvenile.”
The air team was able to locate the individual not far from approaching ground teams, said the release, and was successfully able to make contact and safely transport the individual to volunteers. The individual was then transported by air to the Banner Wyoming Medical Center for evaluation.
The operation concluded around 10 p.m., said the release.
