COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A 77-year-old woman who disappeared Friday morning while hiking on Kennesaw Mountain is back with her family.
Emergency crews told Channel 2’s Michael Seiden that they weren’t just dealing with rugged terrain but also racing against the clock because the missing hiker has dementia and is diabetic.
It was a sense of relief and gratitude from the family of 77-year-old Suk Yi Kim when she was found alright.
She disappeared on Friday morning while hiking Kennesaw Mountain with her husband.
“Oh my! I can’t even find the words to say how happy I am,” Kim’s sister Su Ki said.
Police say a language barrier initially caused confusion.
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“There was a 911 call that came in around 11:30 this morning for a missing person on the trail. The husband said he got separated from his wife, that she has dementia, and they were concerned,” Maj. Jorge Mestre with the Cobb County Police Department said.
Kim had actually been missing since around 8:30 a.m. Friday.
Investigators said they learned she is diabetic, raising serious concerns about her health and safety.
“We had Georgia State Patrol, Marietta Fire, Marietta Police, Cobb Emergency Management, Cobb Police, and the U.S. Park Police,” Mestre said.
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Dozens of volunteers also joined in the search, and by early Friday afternoon, crews found Kim safe about three miles from the trail in the city of Marietta.
“More than anything, I’m thankful for everybody who helped find her,” Ki said.
Police say this is a good reminder for anyone who hikes the mountain to always bring a phone or a tracking device, like an air tag, and let a loved one or friend know how long you plan to be on the trail.
That way, if you don’t return on time, they’ll know something may be wrong.
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