Grandmother and Grandkids Rescued After Getting Lost Hiking in South Carolina

Lost During a Hike

• ⛰️ A grandmother, Tonda Michelin, and three grandchildren, 14-year-old Melody, 11-year-old Dale, and a third unnamed grandchild, became lost while hiking in Caesar's Head State Park in South Carolina.
• 🐶 They were accompanied by a small dog named Coco.

Challenging Conditions and Trail Disappearance

• 🌧️ The hike became difficult due to fallen trees, a narrowing path, and steep, slippery terrain.
• 🌫️ Conditions worsened as fog moved in and it started to rain, causing the trail to disappear.
• 😨 Tonda described the situation as dire, stating, "We couldn't go anywhere. I was like, 'Oh my gosh, we're gonna die.'"

Emergency Call and Rescue

• 📱 The group had only one cell phone with a battery life of 4%.
• 📶 They had to climb to the top of a mountain on their hands and knees to get enough service to call 911.
• 📞 The call was made with the phone about to die, with the family expressing their fear.
• 😴 They found temporary refuge in a small cave and managed to get some sleep.

The Hero Dog

• 👂 Searcher Joey Oberman heard the family's dog, Coco, barking, which led him to their location.
• ✅ Oberman is credited as the hero, with the family believing they would not have been found without Coco's barking.