39-year-old went missing for 9 days—his unique call for help played a major role in his rescue
A person's survival instincts might help them survive the toughest terrains. A 39-year-old lost in a remote region north of McLeese Lake in Canada had his survival skills and the rescue team to thank for being alive as well. The man, Andrew Barber, managed to survive the wilderness by drinking unclean water from the pond and using several other tricks. The rescue team explained that the man had been lost for nine days and they managed to reach him at just the right time, according to the Vancouver Sun.
Barber was found on August 8 after he had been missing for nine days when a helicopter flying from Prince George spotted him. Staff Sgt. Brad McKinnon of the Williams Lake Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) explained that the man might not have survived if he had been found any later than that day. "He had sustained an injury to his right leg and he was severely dehydrated." The man made a makeshift shelter for himself using rocks and mud and carved the word "Help" on top of it to ensure that people could notice him. Fortunately, the helicopter could actually spot him at that place. It was only a few miles away from where his truck had broken down on the forest service road.
Barber was stabilized and airlifted out of the area, eventually taken to the Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. He was treated for a few days and was ready to go home after that. "I’m told he is doing quite well," McKinnon shared. "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." Barber ate whatever he could find during those 9 days to stay strong and fed. "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 police didn't know why or how the man was in such an area, but his survival skills played an important role in his rescue.
"We had been at this for nine days and it was essentially like looking for a needle in a haystack. The Cariboo region of British Columbia is beautiful, but it is immense and there are tons of rural and wilderness areas," McKinnon went on. "The human drive to survive is a powerful thing." The officer praised everyone involved in Barber's rescue, including the Quesnel Search & Rescue. The rescue team wrote in a Facebook post, "This outcome is the result of countless hours on the ground and in the air, using every resource and piece of technology available to us."
They continued, "We want to extend our deepest thanks to our partners: RCMP, PEP Air and BC Emergency Health Services for their outstanding support in bringing this search to a successful conclusion. Today’s result is why we train, why we respond and why we never give up." People praised the team for the rescue in the comments section of the post. Troy Marie Giesbrecht wrote, "What a fantastic outcome. Thank you for your hard work and dedication." Tracy Harpur commented, "Thank you for all you do, all the hard work and amazing results." Barbara Arychuk remarked, "Thanks for your hard work and dedication to those in need...Thank goodness for these rescue volunteers."
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