Woman, 36, Filming YouTube Survival Show Rescued After 18 Hours Missing in Forest
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 36-year-old woman from California got lost in Michigan’s Pigeon River Forest while searching for water on Friday, Sept. 5
- According to the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, she spent almost 18 hours in the “cold and rain” before being located by a police helicopter
- She had been participating in a YouTube outdoor survival contest at the time of her disappearance, according to local police
A woman taking part in a YouTube outdoor survival contest was rescued after being lost in a Michigan forest for 18 hours.
At around 5 p.m. local time on Friday, Sept. 5, the California native, 36, left the designated base camp set up in the Pigeon River Forest, Charlton Township, in search of water, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release shared on Facebook. The contest’s hosts launched a search for her when she failed to return, but were unsuccessful in their attempts.
The woman was reported missing to authorities at around 5 a.m. the next day. “A search effort was initiated, and MSP canine units entered the dense forest, which was still damaged from the ice storm,” Michigan State Police said in a news release shared on X.
At around 10:40 a.m., a police helicopter located the missing woman “deep within a swampy area,” according to the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office. She had been in the “cold and rain for almost 18 hours.”
Erin Kirkland/Bloomberg via Getty
Multiple authorities had assisted in the search, including several fire departments, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit.
Once the woman, who has not been publicly identified, was located in the forest by the helicopter crew, ground officers and canine units approached her.
“The female was able to walk out under her own power and was evaluated by EMS on scene,” the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office said. “She was released with no serious injuries.”
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Otsego County Emergency Management- Homeland Security & 911 Facebook
Footage from the rescue mission shared by Michigan State Police on X shows the woman frantically waving towards the helicopter above her while lost amongst the trees.
A helicopter crew member can be heard directing law enforcement officers and firefighters on the ground towards her. They were able to “walk her out of the woods safely,” according to the police news release.
“Thank you to all the First Responders. MSP, MSP Helo, OCSD, DNR, Charlton Twp Fire, Otsego Lake Fire, Star Township Fire, OCEMS – Emergency Service,” Otsego County Emergency Management- Homeland Security & 911 wrote on Facebook, alongside two photos taken at the scene of the rescue.
PEOPLE contacted the Michigan State Police and YouTube for further information on Monday, Sept. 8.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
