Reports from authorities indicate that a group of mountain bikers came to the rescue of hikers found almost undressed and suffering from injuries in the Idaho wilderness.
Heather Wayment was reported lost by her family on September 17, the day after she went missing.
The following day, a group of mountain bikers stumbled upon a trail in Camas County where Wayment was located.
Brothers Tommy and Vinton Gwyn, along with their friend Shelton Robinson, were on their usual biking and camping trip when they unexpectedly found her more than 17 miles from where she disappeared, wearing only her underwear with bloodied legs.
“We knew we had to stop; she was clearly in distress,” Tommy Gwyn shared.
“At first, she was hesitant to accept help; she was scared and very guarded. It took her about half an hour to finally talk to us.”
Robinson mentioned, “We offered her some filtered water from the stream and a jacket. Once she calmed a bit, she told us her name and that she was lost.”
Wayment had removed her shorts to wrap around her injured legs and left her phone in the car, as recalled by one of the bikers. Other bikers, including Andrew Mortensen, Randy Ivy, and another unnamed friend, recognized her as the missing hiker.
While some bikers provided food and water, others helped to call for assistance in an area where there was no cell service.
“I sent a text to my wife in Pocatello using GPS and an off-road app,” said Gwyn. “By 3:45 p.m., after sending around 50 messages, I finally got confirmation that a rescue helicopter was coming.”
One of the bikers recalled that he had to maneuver his bike up a hill to reach a meadow suitable for the helicopter’s landing.
Thinking back on Wayment’s rescue, Gwyn expressed admiration for her strength, considering the challenging terrain she navigated. “It’s quite remarkable she made it through those mountains. It was freezing at night, and yet she survived,” he noted.
Robinson added, “Finding her was a stroke of luck. It’s a reminder that you never know when you might need to be rescued. Witnessing the rescue process was genuinely impressive.”
Wayment was airlifted to a local hospital by 5:45 p.m. Details regarding her current condition haven’t been released yet.
Local officials praised the bikers for their heroic actions: “We are grateful for the efforts of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and the cooperation of the bikers in aiding Heather until medical help arrived.”
