Search for lost dog leads to full-scale rescue mission, missing man found
HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — What started as a quick trip to find a missing family pet turned into a full-scale rescue mission.
📸: Courtesy of TBI
On Monday, July 7, 63-year-old Steven Troy Roper went missing in the Big Eddy area while looking for his family dog. His wife, who dropped him off around 10 a.m. that morning received a text from him around 2 p.m. stating that he found the dog, but he was in chest high water.
📸: Courtesy of Haywood County Sheriff’s Office
“We got the call about 3:30 yesterday afternoon. We searched until 2:30 last night,” said Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett. “The highway patrol, they were fantastic, they sent us a helicopter, and they flew over the area for hours last night looking for him. But we called it off at 2:30 this morning and resumed around 6:30 this morning.”
Roper, a diabetic who is on dialysis, spent the night wandering through the woods with his dog, Baxter, trying to find their way back home.
“He had some medical issues, diabetes and dialysis. He supposedly gets dialysis every other day, so there was a big concern that prompted a big response from all of the area agencies to try to find him,” said Sheriff Garrett.
The search brought together multiple agencies including Haywood County deputies and EMA, Madison County Fire Rescue and more.
📸: Courtesy of TBI
“Thanks to the Madison County fire chief, he was able to follow that path and then saw him. He was down on his hands and knees and disoriented and was able to call for help,” said Sheriff Garrett.
After a 12-hour search, Roper and his dog were found alive–tired and dehydrated–but safe.
Roper was transported to the Haywood County Community Hospital for treatment, and Baxter received a much needed bath by TBI personnel.
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