14 Year Old Hiker Rescued After Cold Night In Woods

A fourteen year-old Fortuna resident was separated from friends he was hiking with yesterday…. And what started as an adventure ended with a battle to survive against below freezing temperatures without food or water. Cameron Cramer has more from the rescue effort..
A father's first words to his son, after an all night search...for 14-year-old Kevin Tommila, the moment was too much for his legs...
"Just being alone and cold, and lost...it's crazy." Said Tommila.
Crazy doesn't begin to describe the journey that started here on 14th street, but would stretch all the way out of city limits. Kevin got separated from his friends, and the terrain, vertical in many parts, heavily wooded in all...then the sun set.
"I had nothing but my hoodie." Said Tommila.
A cotton sweatshirt was all Kevin had to combat temperatures in the 20s, no food, no water, no fire. But little did he know a massive search was underway by the Fortuna PD, volunteer fire department and Humboldt Search and Rescue...not to mention a helping hand from neighbors...
"We were able to get community members to lend the use of their ATV's to get up there. We did have a few officers grew up here that were familiar with the area." Said Sgt. Charles Ellebrecht.
And at 8 this morning they were rewarded. They heard Kevin’s voice calling from this clearing. After that it was just a matter of navigating the hillside before the reunion could take place"I was so glad when I heard his voice this morning, I mean, I thought the worst." said his father, Kevin Sr.
And for Kevin, exhausted, clothes torn, with leaves in his hair, and cuts on his hands, there was only one thought on his mind."
"All I could think when I was down there was 'I want to go home'" Tommalia saod.
And down from these hills, home is where he's headed. Call it an early Christmas present. Cameron Cramer Newschannel 3.