Fisherman lost in National Forest saved by local firefighters

Wayne Noakes had come to a creek near Laurel Lake Friday for a fishing trip. However, he was the one that had to be caught by Oak Grove and Woodbine firefighters after he became lost in the woods of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

"I just slipped and fell and rolled in the leaves," Noakes said. "When I got up and started walking, I walked in the wrong direction"

Noakes had his cell phone with him and with a call to Whitley 911, help was on the way.

"He had called 911 and told them, ‘I¹m lost,’" Oak Grove Fire Chief Kevin Gibbs said.

About 4 p.m., the call went out to the two departments for manpower to conduct the search. Within minutes, 16 firefighters were on the scene neartrail 193.

Dispatchers were able to trace Noakes¹ signal to the tower it was bouncing off of and give firefighters an approximate GPS location. Using that location as the center point, Gibbs said the firefighters broke up into three five-man teams and began searching within a half-mile radius of that point.

About 5:40 p.m., one of the search teams located Noakes who had been walking through the woods.

"They heard him shouting," Gibbs said.

Noakes said his feet hurt from the 2 to 3 miles he walked through the woods, but he was, otherwise, uninjured. He loaded into his vehicle and headed for the Interstate and home.

"I just really want to thank these guys for coming out and finding me," Noakes said.

Noakes added that he regularly comes to the area to fish, but has been in several years.

"Oh, yea," Noakes responded when asked if he will come back to the area for another fishing adventure. "This ain¹t nothing."

Oak Grove and Woodbine firefighters were assisted by Whitley County Emergency Management.

Gibbs and Woodbine Fire Chief Rick Fore advised that anyone who comes to enjoy the woods take some precautions including carrying a cell phone and if possible, a GPS device. In addition, carry water, something to snack on and a whistle or other noisemaker.

"Be prepared to be out there all night," Fore said.

The searchers said the best thing someone who is lost and knows search parties are looking can do is to stand still and let the search teams come to him or her.

"Hug a tree," one of the searchers recommended.