When Sam Benastick planned a trip to Redfern-Kiely Provincial Park, he only intended to be gone for 10 days. So, when he had yet to return home as planned, his parents were quick to report him as missing. This Canadian park is known for its beauty, but it’s also quite isolated. Plus, it’s all the more dangerous during colder seasons. Miraculously, though, this missing hiker has been found alive after five whole weeks.
Videos by InspireMore
During those five weeks, Sam managed to survive extremely harsh conditions. At night, there were points when the temperature dropped to -20 degrees Celsius (that’s -4 degrees Fahrenheit). And while he had a supply of food with him, he certainly didn’t have enough to last him five weeks. Add on the fact that this park has very few shelters and no potable drinking water, and it really is a miracle that Sam was found alive and relatively unscathed.
@cbcvancouver Sam Benastick, who went missing in northeast British Columbia's backcountry, has been found after surviving more than five weeks in remote Redfern-Keily Provincial Park where temperatures fell below –20 C. #CBCNews #CBCbritishcolumbia #fortstjohn #missinghiker ♬ original sound – CBC Vancouver
For a while, Sam stayed in his car. Eventually, he moved to a different location in the valley to build a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed. Finally, he made his way to a road where he ran into other people. These kind folks took Sam to the hospital. Meanwhile, the young man’s parents, who had been staying at a nearby inn during the rescue mission for their son, made their way to the hospital ASAP.
After Five Long Weeks, This Missing Hiker in Canada is Finally Found Alive
“Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome,” Corporal Madonna Saunderson, a spokesperson for the RCMP in British Columbia, says. “After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this would not be the outcome.”
Thankfully, Sam’s recovery in the hospital is going well. While he suffered from frostbite, smoke inhalation, and became very weak, he’s already able to crack jokes about his harrowing ordeal.
“Complained that he hasn’t caught one fish,” his mom shares. “He will make recovery just needs some time.”
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
