On A Hiking Trail, A Father Calls Out To His Missing Daughter, Only To Hear A Stranger Respond.

John Utsey is an outdoorsman who enjoys exploring nature. It was a wonderful summer day, so he and his children decided to make the most of it by soaking up some of the southwestern sun.

The inhabitants of New Mexico were looking forward to their family trek along the Windsor Trail within Santa Fe National Forest, but they had no idea that their day would be turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

John never anticipated finding himself in a two-day off-trail rescue mission after losing track of his daughter up ahead on the route. But soon enough, everyone would realize that timing is crucial and that perhaps everything happens for a reason.

Having a Good Time with the Kids

That Saturday morning, John Utsey, his 10-year-old son, and his 12-year-old daughter were all set for their summer day hike. And, as much fun as it is to engage in free-spirited activities with your children, it can be hard to keep their exuberance under control at all times.

John’s daughter became enthralled by the natural beauty and decided to sprint further along the trail, finally losing sight of her father.

While something may not appear to be particularly risky, a seemingly innocuous deed might often turn out to be far more harmful than you anticipated.

A Deafening Army Cry

It’s only natural that John’s preteen daughter, the daughter of an ex-marine, would want to lead the hike— it’s her blood! However, as she ran ahead on the route, she quickly vanished.

And, no matter how simple a route appears to be. When it comes to nature, you must stay together.

But, as a former military man, John quickly shouted out to his daughter with a loud army scream as soon as he lost sight of her.

She didn’t respond.

John didn’t want to lose sight of his daughter, even if she wasn’t much further ahead.

John told Fox 29 WFLX News, “I shouted her name. She didn’t answer.”Where could she possibly be? Why wasn’t she answering? She didn’t appear to have run that far.

“I then yelled her name pretty loudly,” he continued, “and then I heard her yell out to me from well up around the corner of the trail.” But it was what transpired after that that sent shivers down his spine.

There’s no need to panic.

Can you imagine going on a fun hike with your family and you lose track of your daughter?

There’s little doubt that he was experiencing a wide range of emotions during those terrifying moments. However, the ex-military man had been educated to remain calm in tight situations, and now was not the time to panic. And just when he was beginning to suspect something was seriously wrong, he heard her voice. But that didn’t mean they were safe; they hadn’t been reunited yet.

There is something in the Woods.

The only person John expected to hear shout back at him was his daughter, but he heard something else in the woods along with her cries.

It turns out that John’s daughter wasn’t the only one who heard him. And not only did someone hear John, but they also answered.

John revealed, “I heard someone else answer from a distance off the trail.”Who was this enigmatic figure who responded to John’s cries?

Marco-Pollo

You can only imagine how confused John was when he heard someone else replying to his shouts while searching for his darling daughter.

Is it possible that another hiker was trying to play a game of Marco-Polo? Was it someone who first discovered his daughter? Was it a first-time traveler who got lost on the scenic trail in the southwest? Whatever this mystery person was, John’s only concern and priority were to reunite with his daughter and ensure that she was safe.

What Happened to John’s Daughter?

Despite being perplexed as to who was calling out to him, John made it a point to locate his daughter. Because there was so much foliage and trees in his line of sight, it was difficult to tell exactly where she was, but John was happy to know she was at least on the right track.

As John continued to shout out, he heard her voice grow closer and closer to the trail ahead, indicating that he would be able to find her if he stayed on the way.

However, the other person’s sounds were becoming louder, and John realized that finding his daughter might not be his sole job.

Father and a Fighter

John proceeded on the route in search of his daughter, and to his relief, she was discovered safe and sound! However, after they were united, John’s attention turned quickly.

It was now obvious that the person crying out to him wasn’t someone dangerous or joking around. He was someone who was in trouble. Given that the man’s voice seemed to emanate from a direction that was much off the track, John assumed he was in distress. John moved from parent to combat mode, continuing to call out to the man to see if he would react.

Are you all right?

John was overjoyed and pleased to have found his daughter, but he needed to modify the tone of his calls and yelled, “Are you okay?”

Unfortunately, it turned out that he wasn’t.

John swiftly switched from fighter to rescue mode, and he was on a mission to find this fellow hiker in distress.

The dedicated father and his children traveled around the rough Santa Fe trail in search of this individual, but they were unsuccessful. They were not only inquisitive as to where he was, but they were also eager to get to him as soon as possible because he was in trouble.

After twenty minutes,

The mystery man and the former military man continued to rage at each other. The anxiety grew as the minutes passed, but after approximately half an hour, they finally came together! The family had trekked down a steep hill, 600 yards off the route, only to discover the mystery man, trapped and laying on the ground in a state no one was prepared to handle.

The Situation Is Critical

The man was encircled by a makeshift tent he had made up near a creek, but it was evident that he was in serious trouble.

“His lips were dry to the point of bleeding.” His tongue was enlarged, and he was extremely frail. “I was thinking, ‘This guy needs help,” John told KRQE.

Not only did the man appear disoriented, but he couldn’t even stand up, much less move.

John realized he needed to act quickly.

The Middle of Nowhere

Even though the man required immediate medical attention, John needed to examine the situation more before acting. The man appeared to be around 60 years old, and he amazingly managed to find his way to a nearby stream to drink water. But, out here in the middle of nothing, what was he doing? “‘What’s wrong?’ I inquired. ‘My legs don’t work,’ he explained. ‘What happened?’ I asked. “I guess I fell,” he said,” CBC asked John for an explanation. What a heartbreaking situation!

Days and Days of Being Stranded

The exact number of days the man had been stuck there was unknown, but John believed that he had been alone for at least two weeks, if not more. John wanted to get this man to safety as quickly as possible, but he wasn’t sure they’d be able to get him out on their own in his current condition. Attempting to transfer the man alone back to the start of the trail, even with his two children to assist him, seemed risky, especially given it was miles away. So, what exactly was he supposed to do?

It’s Only the Beginning

John didn’t want to abandon the man in his hour of need, but he didn’t have any other option than to return with his children and seek expert assistance.

Before returning to the trailhead, the family left the man food and water and made certain to get the exact GPS coordinates of where he was.

Three miles later, the trio returned to their starting position and promptly dialed 9-1-1 to alert authorities to the situation. They had no idea that this was only the beginning of the rescue mission.

Taking Action to Help

What an incredible turn of events! Who knew that John’s adolescent daughter’s excursion into the woods would lead to the family discovering a wounded, 60-year-old hiker in need? The firefighters arrived about one hour after John placed the emergency call for assistance. The team of expert rescuers set out on their quest with the exact coordinates of the man’s position. However, it did not appear to be effective, as they had difficulty locating the man.

Surreal

When John received word later in the evening that the hiker had not been located and that the search party had been called off, he was speechless.

“It seemed weird to me. I felt something must have happened if they were standing there and he wasn’t. It was all a bit weird “To CBC, John clarified things even more. While it appeared that the caring father had done everything he could, he was not about to let the story end there.

Still in the Mountains

John had been tossing and turning all night, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. He didn’t forsake the man because he didn’t want him to be abandoned again. John had gone to seek assistance and ensure that he was rescued safely. “So, I’m sleeping there thinking, ‘This man is still in the mountains,'” he says. So, at 9 a.m. Sunday, I jumped in, put on my hiking boots, and trekked back, and he was exactly where I left him,” John said to KRQE. What a bizarre situation!

Making a 9-1-1 call

 When John returned to the woods, he had no idea what to expect, but a voice in the back of his head told him that he had to find this defenseless, sweet elder hiker no matter what. Amazingly, John was able to locate him in just a few hours! The determined father dialed 9-1-1 again as soon as he discovered the man, making sure they knew exactly where they were. John waited patiently with the injured hiker hour after hour.