Lost man tried using phone to guide Florida rescuers. He’s still missing 3 days later

UPDATE: The Bay County Sheriff’s Office reports Peter Tony Berecz was found Sept. 7 after a 5-day search. He was described as “safe and sound.” “The circumstances surrounding his absence are certainly something we are seeking answers to,” the sheriff’s office said. The original story is below.

The search for a missing Florida hiker is entering its third day despite his attempts to guide rescuers with his cell phone, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Peter Tony Berecz, 57, went missing Sept. 3 while walking in woods northeast of Panama City, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. Panama City is about 100 miles east of Pensacola, on the state’s Gulf Coast.

The sheriff’s office initially reported deputies were “in contact with the individual by phone, guiding him to the road with the assistance of the helicopter.”

However, that rendezvous never occurred for reasons that have not been released.

The search is focused near the intersection of Pipeline Road and Country Lake Drive, which borders a vast wooded area to the east.

Rescuers have not reported if Berecz was carrying food, water and other supplies needed for staying overnight in the outdoors. He lives in Panama City, officials said.

“Today requests are being made for additional posse from Washington County to assist,” the sheriff’s office reported Sept 5. “BCSO bloodhounds from the Bay County Jail Facility responded and the BCSO Air Unit has been up all three days.”

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford noted there has been an outpouring of volunteers who want to help in the search.

However, he discouraged inexperienced people from joining the search crews.

“While the desire to help is admirable, the BCSO asks that the general public not enter the search area,” the sheriff’s office said. “Unless professionally trained to conduct Search and Rescue, people entering and walking through the search area has the opposite effect and hampers rescue efforts.”

This story was originally published September 6, 2022 at 4:26 AM with the headline "Lost man tried using phone to guide Florida rescuers. He’s still missing 3 days later."