STANTON, AZ -- A missing treasure hunter is now safe after losing his way during a hunt near Stanton in Yavapai County on Tuesday.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, 62-year-old William Thomas lost his way in the wilderness area between Congress and Yarnell while he was hiking with a metal detector.
Thomas is from New Mexico.
"At 5 p.m. the man's hiking companion called to report his friend...had not returned," a press release from YCSO indicated.
According to Yavapai County officials, Thomas separated from his hiking companion several hours earlier but did not have a way to communicate with anyone. He had left his cell phone in his vehicle, but the hiking companion did have access to GPS coordinates where Thomas had last been seen.
Southern Yavapai search and rescue units used several resources, including quads, mounted units, and search dogs, which all helped in the search.
On Wednesday, the rescuers found Thomas three miles from his parked vehicle in good condition.
YCSO rescue personnel want to remind people to always carry a communication device such as GPS tracker or cell phone, water, food, matches, flashlight, appropriate clothing and even consider an emergency shelter kit.
