Sam Benastick, a man who disappeared while hiking in the Canadian wilderness in mid-October, was found alive earlier this week. He was reported missing on Oct. 19 and was discovered by two men on the Redfern Lake trail. Benastick survived by staying in his car for a couple of days, camping out in the mountains for 10-15 days, and building a camp in a dried-out creek bed. He was eventually taken to safety after flagging down the two men who found him.
Initially planning a 10-day trip in Redfern-Keily Park in British Columbia, Benastick ended up being in the remote area for 50 days. Over 100 volunteers and officials assisted in the search, and updates were provided by his mother in Facebook groups. When he was found, Benastick was suffering from frostbite and some smoke inhalation but was alive.
The remote Redfern-Keily Park where Benastick was found has challenging terrain and is home to animals like grizzly bears, wolves, lynx, and bison. Hikers in the area can experience snowy and frigid weather conditions with temperatures below zero. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police expressed relief at finding Benastick alive, as the outcome was feared to be much worse after he had been missing for an extended period.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com