Lost hunter saves food, phone battery to survive | News

LAWRENCE COUNTY, AL (AP)- Authorities say a lost hunter stayed in a cave to keep warm until he was rescued from the Bankhead National Forest.

Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell said
46-year-old John LaPietra of Madison conserved food, water and his
cellphone battery before he was rescued Tuesday morning. He periodically
texted friends and rescuers in an effort to tell them his location.

The Decatur Daily reports that the nights - especially Monday night - were cold in the forest
after LaPietra became separated Saturday from friends during a weekend
deer hunting trip.

Mitchell says 1 of the hunters made contact with
LaPietra with a text message. He asked what LaPietra could see. His
reply -- a high peak, a creek nearby and caves -- gave searchers a good
idea of where he was.

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