Overview

• Sam Benastick was reported missing on October 19 after failing to return from a 10-day camping trip that began on October 7 in the Northern Rocky Mountains of British Columbia.
• He was discovered on November 26 by two workers near the Redfern Lake trail, over five weeks after search efforts had been called off by authorities.
• Benastick survived freezing temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F) by staying in his car for a few days, camping near a creek for 10-15 days, and later building a shelter in a dried creek bed.
• He was found weak and using walking sticks for support, with a cut-up sleeping bag wrapped around his legs for warmth, and is now recovering in a hospital in Fort Nelson.
• The extensive search involved over 120 volunteers, search and rescue teams, and the Canadian Rangers, but his survival is being hailed as an extraordinary outcome after weeks of harsh conditions.