by Lehigh Acres, Florida — A 78-year-old man who disappeared into a wooded preserve without food, water or medication has been safely reunited with the K-9 hero who helped save his life.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office launched an urgent search on Jan. 28 after Joceli Coutinho was reported missing from Atherton Avenue in Lehigh Acres. Family members told deputies that Coutinho suffers from Parkinson’s disease and dementia, raising immediate concerns for his safety.
At the time he vanished, officials said Coutinho had no food, no water and no access to his medications.
Massive search effort across wooded preserve
By the morning of Jan. 29, deputies concentrated their search around Buckingham Trail Preserve, Buckingham Road and surrounding neighborhoods.
The sheriff’s office deployed a wide range of resources, including:
- K-9 units
- The Advanced Technology Support Unit
- Aviation support
- A Mobile Command Center
- Swamp buggies and ATVs
- Assistance from Lehigh Fire Department and Urban Search and Rescue teams
Authorities described the search as intensive, particularly given the wooded terrain and cooler overnight temperatures.
Later that same morning, the sheriff’s office announced that Coutinho had been located alive.
“Sheriff Carmine Marceno would like to commend the outstanding efforts of LCSO Patrol, Major Crimes, Advanced Technology Support Unit, Aviation, K9, and our partners,” the agency said in a statement.
Coutinho was transported for medical evaluation shortly after being found.
K-9 Remington credited with life-saving track
Officials credited Remington, a 3-year-old bloodhound, with playing a critical role in locating the missing man.
Deputy Rob Elwell explained how the scent-tracking process began with a pair of Coutinho’s flip-flops.
“I was able to take gauze and rub the flip flops for several minutes… then I placed it into a jar and heated it up to bring the odor out,” Elwell said.
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Once presented with the scent, Remington tracked it into dense brush inside the preserve.
Authorities said the K-9 needed only about nine minutes to track less than half a mile before locating Coutinho deep in the woods — after he had been missing for nearly 24 hours.
For his efforts, Remington was rewarded with a well-earned steak.
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Family overwhelmed with relief
Thomas Mafra, Coutinho’s grandson, described the moment the family learned he had been found.
“It was a sense of relief, full of emotions. I feel like the whole family cried when we heard the news,” Mafra said.
Coutinho was found near Agape Christian Fellowship Church along Buckingham Road, according to family members.
His youngest son, Everton, later told local media that Coutinho spent a week in the hospital recovering from dehydration and muscle breakdown, but is now back home.
Emotional reunion
On Feb. 12, Coutinho, accompanied by his family, returned to the sheriff’s office for a special reunion with Remington.
During the reunion, Coutinho described the bloodhound in Portuguese as a “big dog,” drawing smiles from those gathered.
“Mr. Coutinho is blessed with an amazing family, and we are beyond grateful to celebrate that he is here safely with us,” the sheriff’s office shared on social media.
The reunion served as a powerful reminder of the life-saving role search-and-rescue teams — both human and K-9 — play in protecting vulnerable residents.
Have you ever witnessed a K-9 rescue or community search effort? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
