Sheriff’s office helicopter rescues hunter stranded in Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area

A hunter spent much of Saturday night trapped amid thousands of acres of rough terrain inside the Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County.

When he didn’t return to camp, his friends reported him missing. That’s when Shane Engelauf, the chief pilot for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, went to work.

“We have the thermal imaging system and we use night vision as well,” Engelauf said.

It took just 10 minutes for Engelauf to find the hunter. He was flashing his buggy lights making him easier to see.

But even though the hunter had been found, he wasn’t safe yet. He was surrounded by two or three feet of water.

It took Engelauf much longer than 10 minutes to find a safe place to land and bring the hunter to safety.

When the hunter was rescued, Engelauf said, “he was wet, cold and wasn’t in a good situation if he ended up stuck out there all night.”

While most don’t think of hypothermia as an issue in Southwest Florida, Engelauf says it’s a real fear.

“When the temperature drops down in the 50s, and you’re wet with the winds we’ve had, that can happen pretty quick,” Engelauf said.

To make sure you don’t end up in a similar situation, it is recommended you don’t go into a wildlife area like Cecil Webb alone. And if you do, make sure your cell phone is fully charged.

“We’re never going to just leave you out there to die,” said Chris Hall, community affairs specialist with CCSO. “We’re gonna come out, we’re gonna find you. If you’re looking for help, you call us and we’re gonna make you a priority.”

That’s what happened in this case, and that is why the hunter is safely back with his family and friends.