CHAUTAUQUA – A 19-year-old Falconer resident was found alive in the Chautauqua Gorge after a number of agencies organized an intense search for the missing teenager.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the missing man Sunday around 2:15 a.m., according to a news release. The male was identified as Nathan Nowicki.

Investigation found that Nowicki had reportedly been with a group of friends on Beaujean Road when he walked away from the group into a wooded area. The group attempted to locate Nowicki, but were unsuccessful and then left the area.

After leaving, police say the friends made several attempts to contact Nowicki by phone, but were unable to reach him. After a lengthy period of time, the friends contacted the Sheriff’s office to report him missing.

Deputies were dispatched to the area and upon arrival on scene, located Nowicki’s vehicle. Erie County Air 1 was dispatched to conduct a search of the heavily wooded area. Due to heavy foliage, Air 1 was unable to locate any sign of Nowicki.

GPS coordinates from Nowicki’s cell phone showed that it was located in the wooded area, at which time a ground search was conducted. K-9 Drago led the ground search and after a short time, was able to locate a backpack belonging to Nowicki, which also contained his cell phone.

K-9 Drago then led search teams into the Chautauqua Gorge, where search teams were able to track Nowicki’s footprints. Teams continued to search the area until Nowicki was located around 8:45 a.m.

Nowicki was transported to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia and other minor injuries.

The Sheriff’s office was assisted by New York State Forest Ranger, the Mayville, Westfield and Sherman fire departments, Chautauqua Area Search Team and Chautauqua County Emergency Services.