In what is being called as a miracle, a drone recently gave a missing man a very timely rescue.
A police drone in Norfolk, England recently rescued a missing man who was mere moments from drowning in a muddy creek. The man, Peter Pugh, was 75 years old and disappeared after a walk on the beach. When he did not return, police deployed into the area for a search party. The area can be a bit tricky to navigate through. Luckily, the local police department had a drone standing by for these occasions.
England Rescue Drone:
The drone deployed and flew over the Titchwell Marshes, where they luckily found Pugh. Peter Hugh was been deep in his armpits in the mud according to police in the scene. He had apparently slipped and fell on his way home. This meant that breathing room for the operation was incredibly tight. One wrong move and they may never have found Pugh in the vast marshes.
Pugh went straight to a nearby hospital and is currently receiving treatment for hypothermia. While waiting for rescue, he survived by drinking water from the creek. The muddy marshes were slowly dragging him to the bottom, however. But now thanks to the drone, the family can rest easy.
Without the help of the drone, they may have never found him in time. The drone provided an excellent vantage point for the search and rescue group. With it, the police managed to eliminate areas to search. This made their operation a more targeted approach, leading to the timely rescue.
Drones also provide service that helicopters cannot. They can get closer to the areas without fear of damaging its exterior. Drones are also cheaper, both in initial purchase and maintenance. This gives a lot of incentive for local departments to obtain one. You get the aerial coverage of a helicopter for a fraction of the price.
Not surprisingly, rescue departments worldwide have started acquiring drones for their arsenal. From fire departments, to police stations, to search and rescue groups. It is always a great help when you have an eye in the sky watching your back.
