Drone and Rappelling Crew Save Trapped Teen at Dawn

A Kentucky teenager is home safe this morning after a terrifying night trapped on a hillside, thanks to quick-thinking rescuers who used a drone to locate him in the dark.

The 15-year-old left his home near the Russell-Pulaski County line around 2 a.m. when things went wrong fast. He slid down a steep hillside and found himself wedged between two cliff faces, unable to climb out on his own.

Russell County Search and Rescue got the call at 4 a.m. Instead of searching blindly in the dark, the team deployed a drone to scan the rugged terrain. The technology paid off when they spotted the teen stuck but safe between the rocky walls.

With the location confirmed, rescuers prepared for a technical extraction. Team members rappelled down the cliff face to reach the stranded teenager, secured him in a safety harness, and carefully hoisted him back up to solid ground.

The teen was cold but conscious when he reached the top. Rescuers immediately transferred him to a waiting ambulance, where medics treated him for mild hypothermia before transporting him to the hospital.

Why This Inspires

Seven different agencies showed up in the middle of the night to help one scared kid. The Pulaski County Rescue Squad, Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, Somerset SRT, Russell and Pulaski County EMS, Russell County Dispatch, and Russell County Emergency Management all dropped everything to be there.

Russell County Search and Rescue Chief Chris Money emphasized that no single hero saved this teenager. It was teamwork across county lines, combining cutting-edge drone technology with old-school rappelling skills and medical expertise, that brought him home.

The rescue shows how rural communities invest in specialized training and equipment so they're ready when seconds count. These volunteers practice complex rescues so that when a real call comes at 4 a.m., they know exactly what to do.

This teenager got a second chance because his community was prepared, connected, and willing to show up in the cold and dark when it mattered most.