LITTLE HOCKING - A Little Hocking man was transported to Camden Clark Medical Center Thursday after he was found near death lying in the woods by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
The man, identified by the sheriff's office as Gary Walton, reportedly ingested a large quantity of Xanax pills after a civil dispute with his wife and then fled on foot into the woods, officials said.
He was found unconscious by Deputy Keelan McLeish and his canine partner, Deputy Beauford, after a roughly two-hour search.
"Thank God the canine found him. If not, it'd be a different story," said Washington County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden. "That dog saved that man's life."
The incident took place on Stanley Mills Road off Ohio 124 in Belpre Township.
The initial call was made to the Washington County Sheriff's Office by the man's family at approximately 11 a.m.
Walton was located in a small clearing nearly two miles into the woods.
"He had actually hidden himself in a weed patch and was passed out," McLeish said.
To locate Walton, McLeish used a pair of socks pulled out of work boots to provide the scent for Beauford.
Walton was transported by the Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department to Camden Clark Medical Center. As of Thursday afternoon Walton was still receiving treatment in the emergency room.
No criminal charges are expected to be filed in the case, Warden said.
