RUBICON SPRINGS, CA – A 70-year-old man has been found alive after being lost for five days in the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains, authorities announced Wednesday.
Warren Elliott disappeared on Friday, July 19, after setting out on what he thought would be a brief walk in a familiar area. A wrong turn, however, led him miles away from his campsite in Rubicon Springs, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, a fellow hiker discovered Elliott and sent a text to 911, reporting the missing man’s location. A California Highway Patrol helicopter was dispatched, airlifting Elliott to the command post at Homewood Mountain Resort.
A video shared by the sheriff’s office captures the emotional moment when Elliott was reunited with his family. As the helicopter touched down, cheers and applause erupted. Elliott, wearing a torn T-shirt and clutching an empty water bottle, walked unaided to greet his loved ones. He was also seen donning his cowboy hat and expressing gratitude to everyone involved in his rescue.
Elliott had last been seen near Cadillac Hill and was eventually found close to Hell Hole Reservoir, roughly 10 miles west of Lake Tahoe. While the distance is about nine miles “as the crow flies,” officials noted that Elliott had traversed a much greater distance over the five days.
During his ordeal, Elliott managed to survive by drinking river water and consuming a handful of berries, he told officials.
The sheriff’s office expressed their gratitude, stating, “Each day, between 50 and 100 searchers from 10 different agencies across the state participated in the search. We want to thank everyone who assisted.”