A hiker has been rescued from a mountain in the US state of Colorado after he was apparently abandoned by his colleagues during an office retreat the day before.
The unnamed man became lost and without a phone signal after being abandoned by co-workers who had left without him, the Chaffee County Search and Rescue team said.
He had to deal with storms and multiple falls before being found the next morning during a “massive search operation”. His condition was stabilised and taken to hospital, but there has been no update on his condition.
Officials suggested the incident “could lead to awkward office encounters in the days and weeks to come.”
The tragedy took place on Friday as a group of 15 people from the company – whose names have not been released – ventured onto a trail leading to Mount Shavano, 4,300 metres high.
In their statement, authorities said the hiker reached the summit under his own power around 11:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. GMT), but became “disoriented” during his descent.
His colleagues reportedly told him he was on the wrong road and suggested he take the trail again.
But their teammate became even more lost after a severe storm hit, bringing “high winds and freezing rain” and leaving him without a phone signal.
Chaffee County Search and Rescue received an alert at 9 p.m. that evening, dispatching two teams and a drone pilot who were thwarted by bad weather.
A helicopter was also sent to the scene, but despite tracing the man’s last known movements, rescuers were unable to find him. He was wearing dark clothing.
Additional assistance was requested from several agencies in nearby areas Saturday morning, resulting in what authorities called a “significant search effort.”
Eventually, the missing man regained enough phone signal to make an emergency call and was located in a ravine.
He said he fell at least 20 times and was unable to get up.
His rescue required technical rope descents and “phenomenal cooperation and teamwork,” officials added.
The man’s condition remains unknown after he was taken to hospital. The BBC has contacted Chaffee County Search and Rescue for further information.
In their statement, they warned people to never hike alone and to pack brightly colored clothing and essential supplies.
“This hiker was incredibly lucky to have regained cell service when he did, and to still have sufficient consciousness and means to call 911,” they said.
