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A group of resourceful mountain bikers encountered a hiker missing for two days in the challenging Idaho wilderness and ensured her safe return last month, authorities reported.
The 46-year-old Heather Wayment was reported missing by her family on September 17, a day after she was last observed in the Prairie Creek region of Blaine County, Idaho, according to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.
The subsequent day, three mountain bikers unaffiliated with the search and rescue mission located Wayment on a secluded trail in Camas County, roughly 17 miles from the site where her vehicle had been discovered, as stated by the sheriff’s office.
The mountain bikers, brothers Tommy and Vinton Gwinn along with their friend Shelton Robinson, shared with East Idaho News that they were on their yearly biking and camping excursion when they unexpectedly found a woman clad in her underwear, with bloodied feet.
The bikers contacted 911 using a satellite phone and rescuers gave them coordinates where a rescue helicopter would arrive.
“The only nearby spot suitable for the helicopter to land was a meadow about half a mile below,” said Robinson. “One of the dirt bike riders hoisted her onto the bike’s back and conveyed her to the waiting helicopter, sparing the rescue teams valuable time.”
Wayment was found in her underwear with her feet bloodied, as disclosed by the mountain bikers who discovered her wandering in the wilderness. (Blaine County Sheriff’s Office )
Wayment was airlifted with unknown injuries to St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. No update on her condition or how she became lost was immediately provided.
“We’re super grateful we found her,” Robinson told the outlet. “It’s always in the back of your mind that something could happen and you need to be rescued. It was cool to see how an actual rescue works. I was very impressed.”
The sheriff’s office thanked all the bikers involved for their roles in rescuing Wayment.
“We especially want to thank our Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies for their incredible efforts over the past two days, and the mountain bikers who were able to contact law enforcement, guide the Life Flight crew to Heather, and remain by Heather’s side offering aid until medical assistance could arrive,” the sheriff’s office said.
