Missing Man Found Before Midnight

A happy ending is at hand for a missing man and his family comes after he is found alive in the Cohutta Mountain region.Jeffrey Dione Taylor, age 40, went hunting in the Cohuttas Tuesday morning during which he got confused as to where he was.

“I got turned around and had no idea where I as, had no jacket, no lighter or no flashlight”

Taylor said. He slid down an embankment and into a river, which soaked him from his waist down. Taylor stated that he knew at that time that he was in trouble. When the search party found him, they had to work to restore blood flow to his arms and legs but otherwise in good health.

“I’m just thankful that he’s okay…this could have ended very badly”

said Rich Taylor, Jeffrey’s brother.

“Well, I know now to expect the unexpected. I have tried, in the past, to travel lightly. I know to always take a ligher to start a fire with but not to pack so light. The stuff I thought I would never need and took out of my packpack is going back in the backpack”

said Taylor when asked what he would do differently.

“Instead of a good hunting trip with my dog, I turned it into a rescue mission because I wanted to pack light…pack smart, not light”

is what Taylor said when looking back on the event and this will probably be Taylors new outlook on his future hunting endeavors.

Taylor, his wife, children, family and friends are grateful for the individuals involved in the search party for their hard work and dedication in helping to locate him in a timely manner and return him safe and sound.

Photo is provided by Taylor. He is pictured with his daughter, Lilly Taylor.