Kuy Lonh Has Been Found

Kuy Lonh was located around 5:20 a.m. July 29 by a rescue helicopter crew from Two-Bear Air Rescue (Kalispell, MT).

He is in good spirits and is being evaluated by medics after spending his second night in the woods, Boundary County Emergency Management and Public Information Office Officials wrote in a press release. Lonh was not alone, however. He was accompanied by his friend’s dog the whole time, a black Labrador mix named “Lucky”.

The rescue helicopter had been requested by Incident Command the afternoon of July 28 to perform an aerial search early July 29 while the landscape was cool and infrared equipment could be used effectively.

Searchers were operating from a tip they received after midnight from through-hikers who were camping in the area. The hikers said they saw a man with a dog matching Lonh’s description earlier July 28 around 5:30 p.m. and that he was heading up Bussard Mountain to seek higher ground.

The helicopter crew headed there this morning and spotted Lohn, then dropped off a rescuer to lead him to a suitable helicopter pick-up point.

The overall search was led by Boundary County Search and Dive Rescue from an Incident Command Post located in North Bench Fire Association’s fire station on Camp 9 Road. Searchers from North Bench Fire, Paradise Valley Fire, and South Boundary Fire, and Bonner County Sheriff Search and Rescue assisted in the search. The Boundary County Chaplain’s Corps and North Bench Fire provided logistical support.

Search crews would like to give special thanks to Simple Simon Pizza and anonymous residents for donating free pizzas and cases water to the searchers. Thanks also goes to Two Bear Air Rescue and their crew, who provided top-notch rescue services to our county at no cost to taxpayers.