INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — An 86-year-old man who had been missing for nearly four days was rescued less than a mile from an RV park in Sebastian.
The Indian River County Sheriff's Office (IRCSO) said Thursday that Donald Keaton, who has dementia, had last been seen on Sunday. He was found at around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, in a wooded trail area, under mud and a patch of palms.
Keaton was found with scratches, cuts and ant bites, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His wife, Joyce Keaton, said he is expected to recover and be discharged on Friday.
“I just want to thank all of you for bringing my husband back home," said Joyce. “When you have the faith in God that gives you the peace, and then you see all these people working together, makes all the difference.”
Joyce explained they were staying at the RV park. Donald went for a walk and wandered into the woods for 81 hours.
“He wouldn’t get out of a hole that’s why he was breaking the palms. He was trying to put them underneath him so he could lift himself out," said Joyce. He said 'I tried, I just couldn’t get out the hole.'”
The sheriff's office says the rescue was a multi-agency effort, with assistance from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Brevard County Sheriff's Office and the Sebastian and Fellsmere police departments.
“He was hidden under those palms," said Sheriff Eric Flowers. "We had been out with the dogs. We had been out with ATVs, the helicopters, and these guys went over 26 hours of drone time.”
IRCSO spent several hours flying drones and deploying K-9s. Officials found Keaton on a heavy patch of saw palmettos while flying the drones, which picked up heat signatures from his body.
"Without this technology, he would not be alive today,” said Sheriff Flowers. “Our team never gave up."
Joyce said they are from Ohio, and visit during this time of year. Donald is expected to be discharged Friday, and hopes to spend the holidays back home.
“The prayers from all over the county basically cause we have friends from all different places, but the prayers, is what saved him," said Joyce.
Joyce said to prevent this scare from happening again, she's already in touch with Project Lifesaver, a nonprofit that offers tracking devices for those in need.
“There has been successful rescues, wonderful success stories," said Courtney Sanchez with Project Lifesaver, during Thursday press conference. "It can help many other families.”
