A Canadian was found alive for more than a week after reporting his disappearance in a forest. To survive, the man “ate everything he found”, and drank “the dirty water of a pond”.
Help speaks of a “lucky man”. Andrew Barber was found alive in a forest in the Canadian British Columbia Province, more than a week after reporting his disappearance, reports several media like CBC and the BBC.
“I do not know if he would have held 24 hours more without our intervention,” said Bob Zimmerman, the president of Quesnel Search & Rescue, a group of volunteers who found the man disappeared.
Andrew Barber was missing on July 31 near Lake McLeese, where his truck had broken down. This vehicle was found by a member of the Bob Zimmerman team who saw “a radius of sunshine on the truck windshield” when he was carrying out aerial research.
A “SOS” traced in the mud
This discovery allowed volunteers to reduce the area, initially very large, to be raked. Andrew Barber was finally found about five kilometers from his truck, next to a “SOS” traced in the mud and a large stone on which was written “with help”.
“He had built a small earth shelter with foam and mud against the big rock,” said Bob Zimmerman.
To survive, Andrew Barber “eaten everything he found”, and drank “dirty water from a pond to stay hydrated,” said Brad McKinnon, sergeant of the Royal Canadian Gendarmerie.
After spending more than a week in nature, the man was “very dehydrated” and “injured in the leg”. He was doing “quite well”, said Brad McKinnon. After being rescued, the man was transported to the hospital to be treated.
