A group of New Jersey State Troopers are being hailed as heroes after saving the life of a man who had become lost in freezing weather.
Sussex Station Troopers responded to a missing person after a man was reported to left his residence in an Ultra Terrain Vehicle (UTV) and was not heard from in 24 hours.
Troopers conducted a search of the area and eventually located UTV tracks that led them deep into the woods of Stokes State Forest.
The tracks led Troopers to the UTV that was disabled by a downed log and multiple boulders, but the man was not with the vehicle.
The Troopers were able to follow his footprints in the snow and it was observed that he had become separated from his walking stick and his right boot. He was found a short distance from his boot, lying face up with labored breathing, but his core body temperature dropped significantly and he was suffering from hypothermia.
At this point Troopers removed their Class A winter blouses and placed them on top of the man’s body. They also removed their ballistics vests and placed under him to separate him from the frozen ground.
Additional Troopers arrived and they took turns laying on top of the man in an attempt to transfer body heat while also administering sternum rubs.
Members of Sandyston Fire Department arrived with a stokes basket and the man was carried out of the woods to an awaiting emergency UTV. He was air lifted to an area hospital and is now safely home recovering.