On February 9, 2025, at approximately 1 p.m., HCSO’s 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a lost hiker in Little Manatee State Park.
HCSO‘s Aviation Section located the hiker and picked up a rescue specialist in a nearby field. The rescue specialist was let down by hoist to the hiker. The hiker was escorted to safety, where patrol units and Hillsborough Count Fire Rescue stood by. The hiker sustained minor abrasions and dehydration but was uninjured.
“The rescue today is what we train for. Our sections worked seamlessly together to locate and get this hiker to safety quickly in what otherwise could have been a very dire situation,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We’re grateful for a successful outcome.”
