Lost hiker found injured, shirtless and wearing flip flops by New Mexico road, cops say

Police in New Mexico who were looking for a missing hiker found him on the side of the road, they said in a Facebook post.

The 23-year-old hiker, who was “not dressed for the weather,” got separated from his party while hiking the La Luz trail, according to the post by Albuquerque police.

A ranger was on his way to find him when they noticed some movement in the brush on the side of Forest Road 333. When he pulled over, he immediately found the hiker, who was “visibly distraught” and “limping,” the post said.

He was shirtless and wearing a pair of flip flops. He also had a makeshift bandage around his knee, which was being “held on with a keychain lanyard,” police said.

The hiker told police that he fell after getting separated from his friends on the trail. Rangers were able to get him to the side of the road, and “rescue was immediately summoned,” the post said.

The post did not say what day the man was rescued.

“Open space rangers want to remind everyone to always be prepared,” the Albuquerque Police Department wrote. “Have good hiking shoes, food, charged phone, water, extra clothing and never go alone.”

The La Luz trail is about 37 miles northeast of Albuquerque. The trail is 7.5 miles long and known as one of the most challenging trails in New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains, the U.S. Forest Service said.

This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Lost hiker found injured, shirtless and wearing flip flops by New Mexico road, cops say."