An elderly Trescott man was located alive today after he survived a night in the woods where temperatures dipped into the mid-30s.
Maine Search and Rescue Dogs (MESARD) K9 Kenny and MESARD K9 handler Nikki St. Pierre located Dennis Beckwith, a 76-year-old man, this morning in the woods approximately ¾ of a mile from his residence.
Yesterday, Maine Game Wardens, along with Maine Marine Patrol, Maine Forest Rangers and the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to search for Beckwith who had last seen at his residence in Trescott. Beckwith left his residence at 9:00 a.m. yesterday to go for a walk in the woods, but when he never returned, his family contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
This morning, May 9th, the Maine Warden Service expanded search efforts with assistance from MESARD, Maine Forest Service, Maine Marine Patrol, and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. At approximately 8:00 AM, Beckwith was located by MESARD K9 handler Nikki St. Pierre and K9 Kenny. Beckwith was approximately ¾ of a mile from his residence in an area of thick woods, hypothermic, and had difficulty walking. It appears that Beckwith had become disoriented in the woods and was unable to continue walking.
Members of the Maine Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol, Maine Forest Rangers, a member of the Cutler ATV club, and the Lubec Fire Department were able to move Beckwith to a nearby gravel pit where Beckwith was transported by a Maine Forest Service helicopter to an awaiting Downeast EMS ambulance in Cutler.
Beckwith was then transported to Downeast Community Hospital in Machias, where he is expected to make a full recovery.
This release will be updated if any new information becomes available.