On April 16, a South Carolina man went missing after heading out for a fishing trip with his beloved Chihuahua. The fisherman got trapped in barbed wire, and help didn’t come until two days later. However, his furry friend stayed by his side, keeping him company until he was rescued.
Missing fisherman found tangled in barbed wire, his dog kept him company
Billy Wayne Kearse went missing after he left his home last Tuesday. On Thursday, April 18, his friends came across his fishing tackle box while looking for him. They promptly called the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and deputies began their search for Kearse.
He was found on the same day, tangled in barbed wire and on the brink of dehydration. The fisherman needed to be transported via medical helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment. Sheriff Steve Mueller told USA TODAY, “He got stuck trying to climb over the fence and got hung on the barbed wire as it wrapped around his ankle.”
Officers noted that the missing man’s Chihuahua kept him company the entire time. However, the canine refused to come with the authorities and ran away. Fortunately, when the authorities headed to Kearse’s home to inform his family of the rescue, they noticed the pup was back home safe and sound.
As of April 23, Billy Wayne Kearse is still in the hospital but recovering well. The Sheriff’s Office was thankful to his friends, who handled the situation appropriately. They continued their search for the fisherman and never lost hope, which led to the discovery of his fishing tackle box. Authorities recognized that without their help, the rescue mission would have taken longer, which could have been detrimental to Kearse’s health as he was already on the verge of dehydration.
