Missing mushroom pickers found in Oregon

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GOLD BEACH, Ore., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Three mushroom pickers whose disappearance in an Oregon forest prompted a ground-and-air search were found alive Saturday, authorities said.

The Curry County Sheriff's Office said Belinda and Daniel Conne, both 47, and their 25-year-old son Michael, who have been living in an RV trailer while scoping out a place to live in Gold Beach, hadn't been seen since about noon Sunday at a Huntley Park campsite along the Rogue River.

About 100 law enforcement officers and others took part in the search for the three family members, the newspaper said.

Deputies found signs of the family along a logging road at the western edge of Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and about 11:30 a.m. Saturday a helicopter crew spotted the trio.

The parents were hungry, somewhat dehydrated and cold, and their son had a sprained ankle and frost bite on his feet, authorities said.

Authorities said the family, who had taken shelter in a hollow tree, had seen and heard the aircraft in the area previously but couldn't get their attention because of the thick vegetation. They were found Saturday after they moved to a clearing.

The Connes were airlifted out of the ravine about 2 p.m. and transported to a hospital.