Missing 80-year-old man found buried neck deep in creek at bottom of embankment, police say

ELKINS, W.Va (WDTV/Gray News) – An 80-year-old man who went missing in West Virginia was recently found in a deep predicament.

The West Virginia State Police originally put out a Silver Alert for Harold Simmons before he was found Wednesday night.

The Elkins Police Department said Simmons was found submerged in a large creek at the bottom of a 20-foot embankment.

Simmons was trapped with water up to his neck, according to police.

At around 10:30 p.m. that night, officers heard Simmons calling out for help while they were responding to a trespassing call in a heavily wooded area.

Police also said he was injured.

Sr. Patrolman Coffman traveled down the 20-foot embankment slick from recent rainfall and was able to pull Simmons to safety.

The Elkins Fire Department arrived on the scene and performed a rope rescue operation to get Simmons back up the embankment.

Simmons was then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“After reading the statements of all the officers on scene and reviewing the body-worn camera footage, there is no doubt in my mind that the actions of all the first responders present, and more especially those of Sr. Patrolman Coffman, saved the life of Mr. Simmons,” Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett said. “I am deeply thankful for a good outcome to this situation and extremely grateful to the other public safety agencies the Elkins Police Department has the pleasure to work with.”

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