A 14-year-old boy was found safe Sunday morning after a frenzied search near the Utah-Idaho border that began Saturday when he was reported missing.
Cuyler Stoker, the sheriff of Franklin County, Idaho, confirmed the boy’s location. He was sent to a hospital in Logan as a precaution, but Stoker said the teen showed no indications of frostbite or other significant injuries after an initial evaluation, despite spending the night in subzero temps.
The search began Saturday afternoon, when the kid was reported missing. The Cache County Sheriff’s Office, which participated in the search, reported that he was riding a yellow snowmobile with a group near Franklin Basin Road, approximately 2½ miles southwest of Gibson Basin in Franklin County, Idaho.
Cache County officials initially said that the youngster was 12, but Stoker confirmed that he is 14. He stated the teen went snowmobiling for the first time and became separated at some point during the adventure, leaving him concerned whether he could continue on the sled. The family had been looking for him for some time but asked for assistance after a storm blew through the area and “made conditions more difficult.”
The border between the two counties prompted the launch of a massive search and rescue operation. Cache County Sheriff Lt. Roy Hall said Sunday that attempts to ping the boy’s cellphone were unsuccessful. Both teams searched “relentlessly” in the region using snowmobiles, off-road vehicles, and drones.
A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter has also examined the region, and a Weber County sheriff’s search and rescue team arrived early Sunday to assist Cache County teams who had worked into the early hours in their search. Volunteers also joined the search, which continued until the boy was discovered.
Stoker said the boy was eventually found in a woodland southwest of where he was last seen on Saturday, after spending the night in temperatures below zero. According to Hall, temperatures in the area dipped as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Authorities said they are “extremely thrilled” with the outcome. They also believe it acts as a reminder to make a strategy ahead of time in case something goes wrong while exploring the outdoors. Avalanche beacons and other safety equipment are also recommended for winter sports.
