A man from British Columbia reportedly survived after getting lost in the wilderness for 9 days. Authorities say he had to drink “unclean pond water” to stay hydrated.
According to a report by the Vancouver Sun, authorities rescued 39-year-old Andrew Barber on August 8. Staff Sgt. Brad McKinnon of the Williams Lake RCMP told the outlet a police helicopter spotted Barber in a remote area north of McLeese Lake. “He had sustained an injury to his right leg, and he was severely dehydrated,” McKinnon said.
Despite his condition, authorities attribute Barber’s “above average understanding of the wilderness” to his survival. Quesnel Search and Rescue posted about the incident, saying, “After over a week in the wilderness, our subject has been located alive during today’s search from the air.” They also shared a picture of a rock Barber used to identify his whereabouts to the rescue team. He scrawled the word “HELP” onto it in large letters with mud.
Next to the rock was a makeshift shelter made of wood and mud, and authorities say they found him near the area.
Barber Survived In The Wilderness By Drinking Unclean Pond Water
McKinnon told the Vancouver Sun, “He was literally slurping unclean pond water to stay hydrated. The human body can go a long time without food, but water is a different situation.” He also revealed that Barber “munched on whatever he could find” during his time outside.
The Staff Sgt reportedly couldn’t answer how long the search would have gone on before it was declared a recovery mission. He allegedly said, “I’ll put it this way. Had we not found him when we did, I would have had graver concerns than I currently do.” The Vancouver Sun reports that rescuers found Barber and his broken-down truck near his makeshift shelter. Authorities stabilized him before airlifting him out of the forest. They transported him to Caribou Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake, where he has since been released.
Quesnel Search and Rescue thanked RCMP, PEP Air, and BC Emergency Health Services for their assistance in locating Barber. “Today’s result is why we train, why we respond, and why we never give up,” they said.