86-year-old man rescued from swamp in Central Florida with help from drones after nearly 4-day search

SEBASTIAN Fla WSVN A dramatic rescue took place in Central Florida as deputies saved an elderly man who was missing for days stuck in a swamp Eighty-six-year-old Donald Keaton uncovered himself in trouble and became trapped after falling near his home over this past weekend Wednesday night after nearly four days deputies were able to track down and rescue the Sebastian Florida resident with the help of drone apparatus Body camera footage from an Indian River County Sheriff s deputy captured the final moments of the -hour search which came to an end around p m Donald Can you hear me noted a deputy on bodycam footage Donald Are you all right bud We got you We got you ok Keaton s wife Joyce thanked the Indian River County Sheriff s Office and commented she never gave up hope I just thank you for not giving up and saving my husband revealed Joyce And then we heard a knock on the door and we flew to the door and she explained We have identified your husband and he is alive ' Keaton had been missing since around p m Sunday The sheriff s office continued to search around the clock focusing on wooded areas near his home Drone pilots were able to use thermal cameras to find Keaton where he had fallen Investigators reported he was stuck under saw palmettos Keaton had broken certain of the palmettos trying to get out which allowed his heat to become visible On the drone it looked like maybe a six-inch-by-six-inch square stated Cpl Ryan Matthews who was piloting the drone That proved to be enough as the drone spotlight certified that they had exposed he missing man I ve got him I ve got him right here explained a deputy on bodycam footage Rescuers were able to get to Keaton and carry him to safety then had him transported to a hospital One of the things he declared was They were pulling and jerking on me and I explained They were trying to get you out from underneath you know I m just so thankful explained Joyce Keaton remains in the hospital His wife commented he ll maybe be there for another day or two She added that while he does have a lot of cuts and bug bites he s expected to make a full recovery