Marine rescued after stuck in woods

Columbus, Ind. (WISH) - A former Marine is thanking first responders after he injured his leg while alone in the woods.

29 year old Josh Smith was photographing coyotes in a remote section of Bartholomew County when he fell into a hole. 

The father of two is now back on his feet after five frightening hours Sunday.

“Here I am in the woods, I was immobilized, I was extremely scared,” said Smith. 

Smith, an avid nature photographer was in the woods photographing coyotes behind his home near Camp Atterbury.   He says he was walking through thick brush when he stepped in a two-foot hole.  Believing he broke his ankle, he tried to use his cell phone to call for help, but there was no signal.  To cope with the pain he decided to close his eyes. 

“My plan was not to fall asleep. I was just going to lay their for a minute and think hopefully a signal will come in and I can get someone back here to get me. Well I fell asleep and woke up three-and-a-half hours later,” Smith said.

Near midnight, Smith says he looked at his phone and saw 15 missed calls.

Smith called his father, who was with police. They told him to call 911 so medics could trace his call before his battery died.   The 911 operator used the cell tower to give EMT and police his exact location.

Smith was found about 500-yards from his house.  He credits the hard work of EMTs and the Bartholomew County Sheriffs office for finding him, and says for now he is taking a break from his nature photography and will always bring a fully charged cell phone when hiking.