Lost, Disoriented Hiker In Little Manatee State Park Airlifted Out

LITHIA, FL — A hiker was rescued by helicopter from Little Manatee State Park after becoming lost and disoriented.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's Emergency Dispatch Center received a 911 call Wednesday at 2:47 p.m. from a man stating he was lost in the woods. Battalion Chief 4, Engine 28, Engine 8 and Rescue 28A were dispatched to the area to begin searching for the disoriented hiker who had been without water for about four hours.

The dispatch center located the hiker using the GPS from his cell phone. After searching the heavily wooded area for over an hour, Battalion 4 and Engine 28 found the hiker and began giving him aid while the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office used a helicopter to lift the hiker and two fire crew members out of the wooded area.

The hiker was taken to the hospital where he's in stable condition.