Canadian man rescued after 9 days in wilderness surviving on pond water

Andrew Barber, a 39-year-old man from British Columbia, Canada, survived nine days alone in the wilderness after his truck broke down near McLeese Lake, about 365 miles north of Vancouver. He was reported missing on July 31, and his rescue became a dramatic story of survival and teamwork. Andrew managed to stay alive by building a makeshift shelter out of sticks and mud, drinking pond water, and eating whatever he could find in the forest. He also wrote 'help' in large letters on a rock and drew 'SOS' in the mud to signal for help.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, known as RCMP, led the search for Andrew. On August 8, a police helicopter spotted his truck on a remote forest road, which helped narrow down the search area. Soon after, they found Andrew near his shelter. He was severely dehydrated and had a leg injury, but he was alive. Staff Sergeant Brad McKinnon from the Williams Lake RCMP said Andrew was doing 'quite well' after being rescued. The Quesnel Search & Rescue group, which is made up of volunteers, also played a big role in the search. They posted on Facebook that finding Andrew was the result of many hours of hard work on the ground and in the air, using every resource and piece of technology they had. They shared a photo of the shelter Andrew built, showing how he used mud and sticks to protect himself and wrote 'help' on the rock.

After being rescued, Andrew was taken to the hospital for treatment and has since been released. Staff Sergeant McKinnon explained that Andrew survived by eating whatever he could find and drinking unclean pond water to stay hydrated. He said, 'The human body can go a long time without food, but water is a different situation. ' Bob Zimmerman, the president of Quesnel Search and Rescue, said he was not sure Andrew would have survived another day without being found. Andrew's story shows how important it is to stay calm and use your surroundings when you are lost. It also highlights the dedication of rescue teams who work tirelessly to save lives. Andrew's family and friends are relieved and grateful that he is safe, and his experience serves as a reminder of the dangers of the wilderness and the importance of being prepared.