A young hiker who had been missing in the treacherous Canadian wilderness for over a month was miraculously found alive on Tuesday, bringing an end to a harrowing ordeal that had captured the nation’s attention.
Sam Benastick, a 20-year-old hiker, was discovered hobbling down a service road in British Columbia’s Redfern-Keily Provincial Park. He had been reported missing after failing to return home from a 10-day hiking trip on October 17. Despite spending 50 days in the rugged Canadian terrain, enduring subzero temperatures and heavy snowfall, Benastick was found alive.
Park workers stumbled upon Benastick as they were tending to the service road. He was spotted struggling to walk, wrapped in a makeshift coat made from a torn sleeping bag. The rescuers immediately recognized him as the missing hiker that over 120 people had been searching for over the past five weeks.
The official search for Benastick had been called off on October 28, but his case remained open. It is still unclear how he became lost in the wilderness. Benastick had initially started his trip with his car before hiking to a mountainside creek where he camped for up to 15 days. He then moved down the valley and built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed, where he remained until his eventual rescue.
Despite suffering from frostbite and smoke inhalation, Benastick is expected to recover. His family, relieved and grateful for his safe return, are looking forward to hearing his incredible story of survival. Benastick’s grandmother even joked about buying him a GPS for Christmas to prevent any future mishaps.
The young hiker’s mother shared a photo of him in a hospital bed, where he is receiving treatment for his injuries. Despite the challenges he faced during his time in the wilderness, Benastick’s resilience and determination ensured his survival. His family is looking forward to welcoming him back home and hearing the extraordinary tale of his 50-day ordeal in the Canadian wilderness.
