A 14-year-old boy has been safely found after going missing while snowmobiling near the Utah-Idaho border.
The boy was discovered on Sunday, February 9, one day after he went missing in Idaho’s Whites Canyon area, as reported by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The teen was with a group that alerted authorities on Saturday, February 8, after searching for him for an hour. Early the next day, searchers located him. Once found, he was taken back by vehicle to a staging area where medical personnel were ready to assist.
According to the sheriff’s office, the family chose to have him taken to the hospital for a precautionary check-up, although he was said to be in good health despite being quite cold.
Franklin County Sheriff Cuyler Stoker noted that the teenager was “in really good health and really good spirits,” and all responders were relieved when they heard he had been found safe.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly for nearly 24 hours to locate the boy, enduring challenging conditions with a snowstorm that added 10 to 12 inches of snow to the area, where temperatures dropped to around -15 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the search, authorities received several signals from the boy’s cellphone, assisting in their efforts. He was ultimately found close to where he had last been seen, and it was mentioned he may have had some difficulty because he was a first-time snowmobiler.
The sheriff’s office expressed gratitude towards all the agencies and volunteers who helped during the rescue operation, emphasizing the community spirit of support that surrounds the area, especially in times of need. They expressed their relief at seeing the boy safely reunited with his family.
