Missing man found alive after being trapped in Idaho ravine for days, officials say

An Idaho man was rescued after he was trapped in a ravine and missing for days, officials said.

Joel Brown, a 37-year-old from the Coeur d’Alene area, was missing over the weekend, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. His car was seen near Fernan Saddle on Friday, but people believed he was hiking, police said.

“Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers and Kootenai County Sheriff Deputies contacted Brown’s place of work and learned he did not show up for work on Saturday,” KCSO said in a news release.

Officials started a search for Brown on Sunday, but it was postponed because of a threat of lightning strikes in the mountains, police said. On Monday, Kootenai County deputies, Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers, volunteers from the Kootenai County Volunteer Search and Rescue (VSAR) Unit and Spokane Air Unit continued to search for Brown with no luck.

The search continued Tuesday until about 1 p.m. when Brown was found trapped in the Fernan Creek Drainage ravine, police said.

“Joel was suffering from mild hypothermia,” KCSO said in a news release. “Due to the location where Joel was found, Two Bear Air from Flathead Montana responded with their helicopter to hoist Joel from the ravine.”