Helicopter spots missing hunter climbing mountain to call for help, Nevada cops say

A hunter hadn’t been seen in five days when he was eventually rescued, Nevada officials said.

On Nov. 24, Elko County deputies received reports of a missing hunter, according to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s office.

The hunter, later identified as Joshua Gansberg from Carson City, hadn’t been heard from since Nov. 20, deputies said.

A search and rescue team was deployed with the mission, including members of the Nevada Department of Wildlife and a pilot from El Areo, officials said.

On Nov. 25, a helicopter spotted Gansberg, who was climbing the side of Merritt Mountain in hopes of getting cell phone service to call for help, officials said.

Gansberg’s family had given deputies GPS coordinates for possible camp and hunting spots, which officers said were “crucial in the search.”

During the investigation, officials learned Gansberg’s car had slid into a ditch where there was no service, about five miles from where he was found, deputies said.

Elko County is about a 410-mile drive north of Las Vegas.

This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Helicopter spots missing hunter climbing mountain to call for help, Nevada cops say."