Ruthven Ian Atkinson, the 57-year-old Princes Town man who went missing during an outing to the Bunsee Mud Volcano, was found alive near Mon Diablo Beach around 6 pm yesterday, bringing an end to an intense search effort.
Atkinson was discovered shirtless along the coastline after relatives, fearing he may have made his way toward the sea, secured a boat and began searching offshore.
Family members located him near the beach and quickly brought him to safety.
He was taken to the Siparia Health Facility, where he received medical treatment. His condition was not immediately disclosed, but relatives expressed relief that he was found alive.
Atkinson had been part of a group visiting the mud volcano on Saturday when he reportedly walked ahead along a trail and later disappeared.
Initial searches by members of the group proved unsuccessful, prompting a wider, coordinated effort involving hunters, farmers, volunteers and concerned relatives.
Up to late yesterday, teams led by Hunters Search and Rescue captain Vallence Rambharat, along with experienced hunters familiar with the terrain, had been combing the dense forests of Penal and Moruga.
Chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, Gowtam Maharaj, had also mobilised additional support and issued a public call for volunteers.
Searchers had earlier identified signs of a trail Atkinson may have taken, with some suggesting he could have ventured onto eastern paths leading toward the Moruga forest and eventually the coastline.
The Bunsee mud volcano, located off the beaten track in south Trinidad, is known for its rugged terrain, dense vegetation and confusing network of trails that can easily disorient visitors.
The discovery brought relief to relatives and search teams who had spent hours navigating difficult terrain in hopes of finding him alive.
