On Friday, officials from the National Park Service announced that a Houston woman who had been missing for over a week was located alive at Big Bend National Park in southwestern Texas.
Missing Big Bend Hiker found safe more than a week later
“The hiker has been successfully found. She is currently en route to the hospital in Odessa, TX,” stated Tom VandenBerg, spokesperson for Big Bend, in a communication with Fox News Digital.
Jeremy Hillary captured a video in which the woman, donning a yellow helmet, seems to move slowly while being assisted by individuals on either side of her.
Authorities did not provide details on the specific location within the 1,200-square-mile national park where she was found, but National Park Service photos depict search crews navigating a steep incline as part of the Friday search efforts.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), 25-year-old Christy Perry rented a vehicle in Midland on November 8 and parked it at the Lost Mine Trailhead on November 9.
Perry was reported missing when she failed to arrive for her reserved campground slot inside the park on November 9.
Her absence from the campground reservation on November 9 prompted the report of Perry being missing.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the National Park Service (NPS) stated that authorities were actively conducting a search for Perry in the area. The search and rescue mission received K-9 support from the Texas Game Wardens.
“We thank all involved parties, including our dedicated search and rescue team, partnering law enforcement agencies, and the local community for their unwavering support throughout the operation,” Big Bend National Park said in a Friday statement. “Our primary focus remains the safety and well-being of those who visit and explore Big Bend National Park.”
On Thursday, the Lost Mine Trail was closed as authorities intensified their search for the missing hiker, Christy Perry. Officials urged any hikers who may have encountered Perry on the trail between November 8 and November 9 to promptly contact the authorities.
“Information from other day hikers and backpackers is often extremely valuable,” NPS said.
Big Bend, encompassing 800,000 acres of desert and grassland, features the Rio Grande and the Chisos Mountains within the Chihuahuan Desert. The National Park Service notes that it is a notably remote area, yet it stands out as one of the most diverse deserts in the Western Hemisphere.