He was out of his mind and out of his clothes. And he was up above a
creek without a clue.

A 59-year old Florida man was located Friday deep in the woods in a
ravine near Shorewood Drive.

Area residents heard distant cries for help around 5 p.m. Friday. They
summoned police, who could hear the same cries, but weren’t sure what
they were hearing.

The cops hiked down a bramble covered bank, across a stream and up a
steep embankment and located the man, wearing only his boxers. No
shoes, no shirt, but about to get plenty of service.

He couldn’t walk due to numerous foot injuries. He was dehydrated and
scratched from head to toe.

An arson investigator in the area had some size 13 boots he loaned the
man and local firefighters supplied a rope for the arduous trip back
down the bank and across the creek.

County deputies eventually ascertained that the man had been doing
illegal drugs, got paranoid and delusional and headed for the hills,
shedding his clothing along the way.

He apparently headed into the woods about 8 a.m. Thursday and spent
the night finding his way back to reality, though he obviously was not
sure where the intervening trip had taken him.

The combined efforts of police and fire got him back to civilization
where he was checked over and released.