Police sergeant rescued from slot canyon, with help from a drone

HURRICANE, Utah – A member of the Washington City Police Department was found at the bottom of a slot canyon on Monday and was rescued by a helicopter that hoisted him out.

And KSL TV has learned that the searchers got some unexpected help from a drone.

He was reported missing on Sunday night when he didn’t return home as expected. An initial search on Sunday yielded no results.

But the next morning when the search resumed, Darrell Cashin of Warner Valley Search and Rescue, said his dispatch told him a friend of the victim’s had called to say his drone had picked up footage of someone at the bottom of a slot canyon. 

After dispatch relayed the GPS numbers, searchers in a Department of Public Safety helicopter spotted the missing man. It was approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

The man, later identified as 41-year-old Brad Coleman was reportedly trapped in the canyon for up to 20 hours.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Sgt. Coleman fell from 15 to 20 feet, sustaining serious injuries.

“We are so grateful that Brad is with us today and we pray he makes a speedy recovery. At this time we ask for privacy…” wrote the Coleman family, who has also established a gofundme account to help with expenses.

The Utah Department of Public Safety has provided this video of the helicopter rescue.

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Our previous reporting:

Man stranded in Warner Valley slot canyon is in serious condition