Associated Press
NORTH BEND, Wash. — A woman missing for several days east of Seattle near Mount Si was rescued Thursday along with her dog, authorities said.
Kimberly Haines, her dog Rainey and two rescue hikers were safely down the mountain Thursday afternoon after rescuers were able to make contact with Haines earlier in the day, according to King County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cindi West. Haines was rescued by a sheriff’s office helicopter after being found by ground crews.
Haines was able to sit up in an ambulance to greet family and friends after she was flown to a North Bend, Washington park, KOMO-TV reported (https://goo.gl/c7Eean ).
“I’m OK, I’m OK,” she said before being taken to a nearby hospital.
The King County Sheriff’s Office said she had minor injuries. Rainey was taken to a local veterinarian to be checked out, authorities said.
Crews had been searching for Haines on foot and using ATVs, helicopters and horses since she was reported missing by family members Monday night.
Haines, described as an experienced hiker, had gone out for a trail run at Mount Teneriffe, West said. Haines planned to jog a 15-mile loop but hadn’t hiked the Mount Teneriffe trail previously, West said.
Her family reported her missing when she didn’t return to her suburban Seattle home. Haines is a teacher in the Edmonds School District.
“It’s amazing,” said Karen Haines, Kimberly Haines’ mother-in-law. “You go from hope to despair.”
Mount Teneriffe is just east of North Bend.