Missing hiker found alive after five weeks in wilderness reveals how he survived

A hiker who went missing in the backwoods of British Columbia for more than five weeks has revealed how he managed to survive.

Sam Benastick, 20, disappeared on October 19 after he failed to return from a 10-day hiking trip in Redfern-Keily Park in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Temperatures dropped to as low as -20C, and authorities called off the search and rescue efforts after around a week of looking for him.

But Sam was found on Tuesday by two people who were walking along a trail and recognised him as the missing hiker.

He said he stayed in his car for a couple of days, before walking to a creek where he camped for around 10 to 15 nights.

Thankfully he had a tarp, backpack and some camping supplies on him when he went missing.

He then moved down the valley and built a camp in a dried-out creek bed before finding his rescuers and he remains in hospital.

Local inn owner Mike Reid said he got to know Sam’s family as they stayed at his establishment during the rescue efforts.

He said the hiker had cut his sleeping back and wrapped it around his legs to stay warm.

He also said Sam nearly collapsed as he was placed in the ambulance.

Prince George Search and Rescue search manager Adam Hawkins told the BBC: ‘Those are very difficult conditions for really anyone to survive in, especially [with] limited supplies and equipment and food.

‘Even someone with quite a bit of experience would find that challenging.’

The rugged region is hours away from any towns, and features low-lying hills, steep alpine cliffsides and glaciated terrain.

Mr Hawkins said he is ‘intensely curious’ to learn about where Sam was found, and what he was doing to help inform future search and rescue operations.

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