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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A man called 911 Monday morning and told dispatchers he was lost in Saratoga Spa State Park and had been there overnight, according to Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Shane Crooks.
“He was out and became disoriented,” Crooks said Monday morning on Driscoll Road, where several officers, New York State Park Police and personnel from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Saratoga Emergency Medical Services organized the man’s rescue.
The hiker, identified as Thomas D. Hummel, 66, of Canandaigua, has been staying at a local hotel and became lost while walking in the state park Sunday afternoon. He spent the night alone in the woods.
Hummel was located using GPS coordinates from his cell phone — information that was plugged into a computerized imaging and mapping program at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.
A helicopter was mobilized at around 10:30 a.m. when the man was found safe, though fatigued. However, because he was located in a swampy area near the Kaydeross Creek, emergency personnel were trying to establish how to reach him.
He was eventually brought across the creek and out of the woods shortly after noon.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A man called 911 Monday morning and told dispatchers he was lost in Saratoga Spa State Park and had been there overnight, according to Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Shane Crooks.
“He was out and became disoriented,” Crooks said Monday morning on Driscoll Road, where several officers, New York State Park Police and personnel from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Saratoga Emergency Medical Services organized the man’s rescue.
The hiker, identified as Thomas D. Hummel, 66, of Canandaigua, has been staying at a local hotel and became lost while walking in the state park Sunday afternoon. He spent the night alone in the woods.
Hummel was located using GPS coordinates from his cell phone — information that was plugged into a computerized imaging and mapping program at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.
A helicopter was mobilized at around 10:30 a.m. when the man was found safe, though fatigued. However, because he was located in a swampy area near the Kaydeross Creek, emergency personnel were trying to establish how to reach him.
He was eventually brought across the creek and out of the woods shortly after noon.
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Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of saratogian.com.
kevin33 wrote on Apr 11, 2011 12:04 PM:
cm wrote on Apr 11, 2011 1:01 PM:
gaterhater wrote on Apr 11, 2011 1:20 PM:
Brad wrote on Apr 11, 2011 7:00 PM:
Better yet if you get lost out there don't call anyone! ps-I have kayaked back there and it is as rough as it gets with brush and swamp, "
Mocha Latte wrote on Apr 11, 2011 7:07 PM:
Always the drama-queen.
If he couldn't hear the traffic on Rt 9 then he must be deaf.
Why didn't he have shoes on? Weird story. "
Brad wrote on Apr 11, 2011 8:38 PM:
I also do know that the last two individuals that came up missing in this city were found dead! The lady was found not far from there.
I also know that the hiker here was in shock and I'm sure if he could have hear RT 9 he WOULD have walked out. I challenge you to go out there, it is near where the Kaydeross Creek and the Geyser Brook intersect and tell me what you hear! Probably your heartbeat! There also has been numerous bear sightings and packs of coyotes back there. "
Brad wrote on Apr 11, 2011 8:57 PM:
rickrolled wrote on Apr 11, 2011 11:38 PM:
Brad wrote on Apr 12, 2011 12:28 AM:
We should be saying, thank God he's alive and kudo's to the cops and firemen who rescued this guy after getting him thru rough terrain, "
medac143 wrote on Apr 12, 2011 8:32 AM:
spacity4life wrote on Apr 12, 2011 9:27 AM:
Don't even entertain the idiots. "
Crestite wrote on Apr 12, 2011 10:39 AM:
Kudos to the rescuers on this one "
CityTaxpayer wrote on Apr 12, 2011 10:50 AM:
Frodo wrote on Apr 12, 2011 11:43 AM:
I agree that it's a good thing this moron was found alive. Tragedy averted. But he completely wasted OUR City's resources!
The guy had a cell phone on him, but instead of using it at sunset, or at any time during the night, he sleeps outside apparently shoeless and THEN calls for help the next morning???
The 911 operator should have said, "put your shoes on, turn around, and walk the other way. In about 40 minutes you'll run into a major highway. Turn left and go home." "
crestite wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:09 PM:
I think the gentleman in this case did the right thing, although he waited far too long, and I think the responders deserve a pat on the back for successfully rescuing someone who clearly needed assistance. "
insidious wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:18 PM:
So, if all you Monday morning quarterbacks & self proclaimed safety experts, do your homework before commenting. I made 1 phone call to someone "in the know", and got more than this ditty offers. Or better yet, why don't we (the end consumer) ask the reporters of the Saratogian to do a more diligent job in questioning the facts & dig deeper than the surface. "
Maci_Girl wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:56 PM:
rocketroger43 wrote on Apr 12, 2011 3:35 PM:
2) Ever had hypothermia? (I have not)Disorientation (so the medical journals tell us) comes with it... think about the kid who they found drowned in the creek after the skidmore party...
Maybe this guy made a bad decision at some point, and maybe he didn't. I'd be willing to bet that if only those who have never made a mistake worse than his potential lapse in judgement could comment, there would be none here.
Glad he is OK, and glad i live in a country where those who know little more than their opinion have the right to speak it. "
adkkman wrote on Apr 12, 2011 3:47 PM:
Kyle Bork wrote on Apr 12, 2011 4:29 PM:
Mocha Latte wrote on Apr 12, 2011 7:42 PM:
Did you ever stop to think that these comments were made, based on the written, printed, documented information that was released by the Saratogian?
Maybe you "insiders" should let the rest of us know about your worldly information, instead of picking on us for commenting on what was printed, and available to us "Know-nothings?" "
Kyle Bork wrote on Apr 12, 2011 8:58 PM:
Kyle Bork wrote on Apr 12, 2011 9:04 PM:
rocketroger43 wrote on Apr 13, 2011 8:18 AM:
If you don't understand why someone would do something, focus first on the part where "you don't understand".... and then try to figure out "why someone would do something". "
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