Heather Wayment was reported missing by her family on Wednesday, Sept. 17, a day after she was last seen, according to a news release from the Blaine County Sheriff\u2019s Office (BCSO). Authorities discovered her vehicle in the Prairie Creek area of Blaine County,<\/p>\n
but Wayment herself was nowhere to be found.
\nHer search ended the following day, Thursday, Sept. 18, when a trio of bikers stumbled upon her more than 17 miles from her last known location in the mountains of Camas County. The group \u2014 br<\/p>\n
others Tommy and Vinton Gwinn and their friend Shelton Robinson, all from Pocatello \u2014 told East Idaho News that Wayment was wandering in her underwear and that her feet were bleeding.
\n\u201cWe stopped as she was obviously in bad shape,\u201d Tommy Gwinn said. \u201cShe didn\u2019t want help at first. She was scared and very guarded. It took about a half hour before she would talk.\u201d
\nRobinson added that Wayment eventually \u201clet her guard down a bit and told us her name and that she was lost.\u201d At the time, the bikers were unaware that a search for her was already underway.<\/p>\n
Shortly afterward, three dirt bikers came across the group and immediately recognized Wayment as the missing hiker. They provided her with food while trying to determine their precise location in the remote wilderness.
\nTommy Gwinn said he was able to contact his wife, who then reached out to the BCSO with the information. Due to the isolated location, coordinating a rescue proved challenging for authorities. An air ambulance ultimately responded, transporting Wayment to St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.
\nThe mountain bikers stayed by Wayment\u2019s side until professional help arrived<\/p>\n
. \u201cOne of the dirt bike riders lifted her onto the back of his bike and took her down to the awaiting helicopter, saving the rescue crews time,\u201d Robinson told East Idaho News.
\nIn a statement, the Blaine County Sheriff\u2019s Office expressed gratitude to all involved: \u201cWe would like to thank the members of Blaine County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Snake River Search and Rescue, Blaine County Emergency Communications, Life Flight 76, the Camas County Sheriff\u2019s Office, and all the members of the public who provided information to assist us in rescuing Heather Wayment safely.\u201d
\nThe statement added special thanks to the deputies an<\/p>\n
d mountain bikers who \u201cwere able to contact law enforcement, guide the Life Flight crew to Heather, and remain by Heather\u2019s side offering aid until medical assistance could arrive.\u201d
\nWayment\u2019s survival highlights both the dangers of Idaho\u2019s remote wilderness and the critical role of everyday citizens in emergency rescues.
\nHeather Wayment, missing hiker found near Prairie Creek area of Blaine County, Idaho.
\nBlaine County Sheriff Idaho<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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