Fisherman rescued in North Carolina after getting lost in the wilderness

A North Carolina fisherman who vanished in one of the state’s most rugged mountain areas has been found alive after spending a freezing night alone in the wilderness.

Jeff Ashton was found by searchers early on Sunday morning in the Middle Prong Wilderness of Haywood County.

It ended a desperate overnight mission that spanned multiple counties and drew more than 40 rescuers into some of the most treacherous terrain along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Haywood County Search and Rescue (HCSAR) said its team was first called out around 5:30pm on Saturday after Ashton failed to return from a fishing trip deep in the backcountry.

Rescuers had hoped to find him before temperatures on the mountain dropped below freezing.

Rescue teams immediately split into four groups, combing trails and streams as daylight faded.

‘Around 3:30am, teams pulled out of the wilderness to regroup and rest for a few hours before assembling a much larger multi-agency team of rescuers from our neighboring counties,’ HCSAR explained of the rescue operation in a Facebook post.

By Sunday morning, a full-scale search was underway. But before the expanded team even finished its briefing, the missing fisherman suddenly appeared, walking out of the woods and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.

North Carolina fisherman, Jeff Ashton, who vanished in one of the state’s most rugged mountain regions has been found alive after spending a freezing night alone in the wilderness

Ashton was found by searchers early on Sunday morning in the Middle Prong Wilderness of Haywood County

Rescuers searched until the middle of the night at 3:30am in the black wilderness

‘While in the briefing, the lost fisherman emerged from the forest and was found on the parkway,’ rescuers wrote.

‘Outside of being a little cold and hungry from a night spent outside, we are happy to say the fisherman was in good health and spirits.’

Officials said Ashton had managed to survive the night as temperatures plummeted.

The National Weather Service had been warning of an ‘unseasonably cold airmass’ sweeping across the mountains that Sunday.

‘Thank you to all the supporting agencies for showing up to help when Haywood County called!’ the rescue team added.

‘Remember, if you are farther from your home or vehicle than you can crawl, always be prepared with the essentials needed to spend a night outside.’

Hours after his rescue, Ashton himself shared a message of thanks on Facebook, expressing his gratitude for the people who refused to give up searching through the night.

‘From the ‘lost fisherman’… I am so grateful to all,’ he wrote.

‘The female sheriff’s officer who was parked with my truck at the BRP, Mike and all of the 40 folks who had gathered for a briefing and a 9am continuation of the search, and my loved ones who were gathered with the team. I am so grateful!’

A desperate overnight mission that spanned multiple counties and drew more than 40 rescuers into some of the most treacherous terrain along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Rescuers are seen searching thr Middle Prong Wilderness which spans nearly 8,000 acres of steep ridges and dense forest

Officials said Ashton had managed to survive the night as temperatures plummeted. Searchers eventually called off their search at 3:30am before resuming at 9am on Sunday morning

Hours after his rescue, Ashton himself shared a message of thanks on Facebook, expressing his gratitude for the people who refused to give up searching through the night

The Middle Prong Wilderness is known for its beauty and for its dangers. The narrow, winding trails and deep ravines make it one of the most challenging places in western North Carolina for hikers and search teams

Haywood County Search and Rescue, one of the state’s most active volunteer teams, described the mission as part of a ‘busy week’ that tested its members’ endurance and coordination.

They credited the success of the operation to swift cooperation among multiple county agencies and volunteers who responded in the middle of the night.

‘Our goal was to make sure the fisherman was found before the temps plummeted Sunday evening,’ the team said. ‘This morning, teams assembled from all over the region to assist in making this happen.’

The Middle Prong Wilderness, part of the Pisgah National Forest, spans nearly 8,000 acres of steep ridges and dense forest, with elevations ranging from 3,200 to 6,400 feet.

It’s known for its beauty and for its dangers. The narrow, winding trails and deep ravines make it one of the most challenging places in western North Carolina for hikers and search teams.