Sam Benastick, a man who went missing in mid-October while hiking in the freezing Canadian wilderness, was found alive earlier this week. He was initially reported missing on October 19 and was discovered by two men on the Redfern Lake trail on Tuesday morning. Benastick survived by staying in his car for a couple of days before camping out in various locations for 10-15 days.
His 10-day trip turned into a 50-day ordeal, with over 100 local volunteers assisting in the search efforts. Benastick’s mother provided updates in Facebook groups during the search. When he was found, he was seen with his sleeping bag wrapped around his legs and two sticks to help him walk. He suffered from frostbite and smoke inhalation.
Redfern-Keily Park, where Benastick began his trip, is a remote area in northeastern British Columbia known for its glaciers, waterfalls, meadows, and wildlife like grizzly bears and bison. The park can experience snowy, frigid conditions with temperatures below zero.
Madonna Saunderson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police expressed relief at finding Sam alive after his extended time missing. The outcome was feared to be much worse given the circumstances.
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