A man and his two sons have died after getting lost hiking on a Missouri trail. NBCNews.com reported that there was a lot of rain and cold temperatures when they man, who was an Air Force veteran and experienced hiker got lost with his two sons.
David Decareaux, 36, and his 8 and 10-year-old sons were found on Sunday a day after they went hiking with their Labrador retriever on the Ozark Trail which is about 110 miles from St. Louis. The family is from Millstadt, Illinois. The dog was found near the family and survived.
"Decareaux died at the scene, and the boys were declared dead at a hospital after hours of efforts to revive them failed, the sheriff said. Volner said authorities believe the three died of exposure to the elements, though autopsies were planned," reported NBCNews.com.
Reynolds County Sheriff Tom Volner said to NBCNews.com that Decareaux knew the trail well but he took a wrong turn and was not prepared for the dropping tempeteratures which made its way into the 20s.
CBS affiliate WTVR.com reported that police were called at approximately 6:30 p.m. when they didn't return to the lodge they were staying at. The search was called off around midnight when there were flood waters on the trail and it resumed around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.
The father and sons were found on the trail a few hours later. All three were a part of the boy scouts.
Boy Scouts of America, Lewis & Clark Council of Belleville have released this statement that said,
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Decareaux family and all the Scouts and Scouters in Pack 323 for the tragic loss this past weekend. David Decareaux was a den leader and Dominic (10) and Grant (8) were both Cub Scouts. As a Scouting family, we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."
