Drone with thermal camera locates missing 73-year-old man in NJ woods

A drone with a thermal camera locates a missing 73-year-old man suffering from hypothermia in New Jersey woods. The man Califon man who went missing from his home Sunday night was found following a Police search that included an unmanned aerial vehicle that was used for good.

Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael J. Williams said in a release that the 73-year-old man who appeared to have suffered hypothermia was brought out of the NJ woods on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital.

The missing man was found following a police search that included the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle outfitted with a thermal camera.

According to My Central Jersey, Williams praised the detectives from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office's SWAT Team, Lebanon Township Police Department, Tewksbury Township Police Department and Readington Township Police Department for their efforts in finding the missing 73-year-old man.

“I want to thank the police officers, detectives, and medical service providers for their professionalism and outstanding service in searching for, locating, and caring for the victim,” Williams said.

The man was reported missing around 8:45 p.m. last Sunday night to the Lebanon Township Police Department. He was last seen at around 1:30 p.m. earlier that same day at his home on County Road 513.

Drone with thermal camera crucial in search

The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, Lebanon Township Police Department, Tewksbury Township Police Department and a Readington Township K9 team conducted an initial search of a wooded area near the man's home. Still, they could not locate the missing man.

As the evening set in and temperatures started to drop, First Responders grew increasingly concerned for the man's health, and additional resources were brought in to help in the search.

After members of the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office's SWAT Team responded to the scene, a drone equipped with a thermal camera was sent up in the air. Soon thereafter the man's body heat signature was spotted by the drone operator, who then guided the search team to his location, according to Williams.

Medical care was provided to the 73-year-old man who seemed to be suffering from hypothermia before he was placed on a stretcher and carried out of the woods to a waiting ambulance. Additional care was given to the man by the Clinton First Aid and Rescue and paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center.

Photo credit: Best of NJ