HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) successfully rescued a lost hiker in Little Manatee State Park on February 9, 2025.
At approximately 1 p.m., the HCSO 911 Dispatch Center received a call from the hiker, who had become disoriented within the park. The HCSO Aviation Section was immediately deployed and quickly located the individual from the air. A rescue specialist was then picked up from a nearby field and hoisted down to the hiker’s location.
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The rescue specialist escorted the hiker to safety, where patrol units and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue were waiting. The hiker sustained minor abrasions and dehydration but was otherwise unharmed.
“The rescue today is what we train for,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our sections worked seamlessly together to locate and get this hiker to safety quickly in what otherwise could have been a very dire situation. We’re grateful for a successful outcome.”
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