Missing hunter found alive and well near Clinton Falls

Sunday, November 16, 2014

CLINTON FALLS -- A 76-year-old Florida man, missing some 16 hours after failing to return from a deer hunt in Putnam County Saturday evening, has been found alive and well.

John Rimmer (center, wearing orange stocking cap) is attended to by rescue workers after being found alive and well near Clinton Falls about 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The 76-year-old hunter had been missing since 7 p.m. Saturday after failing to return from a day of hunting in Putnam County.

Indiana Conservation Officers and Putnam County Sheriff's Department personnel responded Saturday evening to County Road 650 West, approximately a mile south of Clinton Falls, to begin the search for John Rimmer, of Largo, Fla..

Rimmer was located about 10:30 a.m. Sunday, reportedly alive and well despite enduring below-freezing overnight temperatures after falling down a ravine and spending the night in a wooded area northwest of Greencastle.

A 911 call was placed by a neighbor at 7 p.m. Saturday after Rimmer failed to return from his deer hunt.

A subsequent search, initiated with the help of local fire departments and volunteers, continued in vain until 4 a.m. Sunday.

A daylight ground search of the steep and rugged wooded area was organized at 7 a.m. Sunday and Rimmer was located approximately a mile from his hunting location.

He was taken by ATV to a waiting ambulance, then on to the Putnam County Hospital to assess his condition.

Rimmer told conservation officers he had fallen down a ravine after finishing his hunt Saturday evening and became disoriented as a result.

He appeared to be in good spirits despite being cold, thirsty and tired, authorities said.

A combined effort by 32 civilian and law enforcement searchers worked through the night on Saturday looking for Rimmer.

Then Sunday morning 51 searchers were deployed to conduct a large-scale ground search of the Clinton Falls area northwest of Greencastle.

Indiana Conservation Officer Lt. Kent Hutchins even piloted his aircraft over the search area as well.

During the search, Indiana Conservation Officers encountered deer hunters who stopped their hunt and joined in the search.

Assisting agencies involved were Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Greencastle Police, Operation Life ambulance, Working Dogs Association and personnel from the Bainbridge, Greencastle, Clinton Township, Reelsville, Roachdale, Fillmore, Russellville, Madison Township, Floyd Township, Bellmore and Bridgeton fire departments.

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  • And Roachdale Fire and Reelsville Fire and Filmore Fire.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sun, Nov 16, 2014, at 5:57 PM
  • Every Putnam County Dept. but Cloverdale and Jefferson

    -- Posted by SMH yea right on Sun, Nov 16, 2014, at 6:31 PM
  • Good job and a big thanks to all of those responding to someone in need.God was looking out for the gentleman who got lost and spent over 12 hours in the cold weather. Lots of heros there!

    -- Posted by interested party on Sun, Nov 16, 2014, at 8:34 PM
  • As a member of the search team, so thankful that we all as a team was able to find him alive ..

    -- Posted by vblfd912 on Sun, Nov 16, 2014, at 8:58 PM
  • Don't know the man but thank GOD these brave souls that searched for him found him alive, well and no broken bones from the nasty fall.....

    -- Posted by waepc on Sun, Nov 16, 2014, at 9:46 PM
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