Cedar Ridge, CA…Yesterday around 11:00 AM, a father and his two sons left their home in Tuolumne County to hike down to the river from Keltz Mine Rd near Cedar Ridge. Ford Canutt the 68 year old father and his sons Travis Canutt, 31 and Oblio Canutt, 42 had taken water and a cell phone with them on their planned three hour hike. When they had not returned by 11:30 PM that night a concerned family member called our office. Units were sent out to search after the call came in but they were unable to locate the men.

This morning at 6:40 AM, Oblio called dispatch and told them he was on a ledge by the river and the three men had become separated at 7:00 PM last night and went different ways. The cell phone ping was not very accurate and was hitting off of different towers. A CHP helicopter flew back over the area and located Oblio in the river canyon.

Ford and Travis had made it out of the area and back onto Keltz Mine Road. They called family and then the Sheriff’s Office. Around 8:30 AM, Sgt. Jeff Hunt and SAR Members Jimmy Scruggs, Nick Melcher, Wade Melcher, Joe Manlove, Leigh Spokas, Mark Banks and Wil Ray arrived at Keltz Mine Road and met with Ford and Travis. SAR member Autumn Fox was picked up by the helicopter and flown to Oblio’s location to assist in hoisting him out. Oblio was successfully rescued from the ledge and reunited with his father and brother.

As the weather becomes warmer and there are more people venturing out into the outdoors, we urge you to have the necessary supplies such as first aid, water, food, clothing, and cell phones in the case that you become lost. We are thankful that this family was found with no injuries and reunited with each other.