A Kentucky woman lost overnight in the woods on Hatteras Island was found safe Saturday morning after a search near Buxton Woods Reserve.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore received a 911 call around 9 p.m. Friday about a missing 31-year-old woman who lost her way while walking in the woods near the reserve boundary. She didn’t have her cell phone with her.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore rangers worked with the U.S. Coast Guard, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as part of a search and rescue operation to locate her.
A seashore ranger began searching for the lost woman shortly after receiving the 911 call, followed by the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad formally initiating and leading a search and rescue operation.
The woman was temporarily located by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, but she became lost again, the National Park Service said in a news release. Search and rescue efforts were suspended later last night until this morning.
After restarting the search around 7:30 a.m., a seashore ranger reported finding the individual walking near the seashore’s administrative housing area on Loggerhead Lane.
“The seashore appreciates being part of such a dedicated team of county, state, federal, and volunteer organizations that help to protect public safety. I thank all of the emergency services personnel that spent the night searching through thick woods and in the air to search for the lost individual,” said David Hallac, Superintendent of the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina.
