An elderly Arizona hiker who was reported missing for six days was discovered dead in a rugged forest with his loyal dog still alive at his side, according to officials.
Searchers located the body of 74-year-old Donald Hayes on Wednesday near Mingus Mountain in north-central Arizona — about 85 miles north of Phoenix, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
When officials arrived on the scene, they found Hayes’ dog, Ranger, “very dehydrated and malnourished,” lying next to its owner’s body, officials said. Responders took the dog to an animal hospital before he was returned to Hayes’ wife, according to a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Hayes’ cause of death was not immediately clear.
Earlier in the week, Hayes had called his wife and told her that he had gotten lost while on a hiking adventure with his dog. The woman then called authorities, prompting a six-day ground-and-air search for Hayes that included responders from four counties and a state police helicopter.
Hayes was told by officials to remain where he was, but he appears to have neglected the instructions.
“Unfortunately, the victim decided against the advice and tried to find his way out, causing him to become lost further in the forest,” the sheriff’s department said.
The man and his dog were found roughly six miles in a straight line from the trailhead, but more than twice the distance due to the tough terrain, officials said.
“I thank all the volunteer search and rescue teams and others who gave of their time for six days to locate the victim and bring him home,” Sheriff David Rhodes said. “Our searchers utilized every tool at their disposal to find Mr. Hayes and never gave up.”
A GoFundMe campaign for Ranger’s veterinarian bills has raised over $4,300 as of Friday evening.
“Ranger is improving,” the webpage says. “He ate dinner. The hope is to release him tomorrow to his family
