A hiker who was last heard from on Oct. 8 has been found alive in northern B.C.
Sam Benastick was reported missing by his family on Oct. 19 after he failed to return from a camping trip in Redfern-Keily Park off of Highway 97 near the Sikanni Chief area in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
He had last spoken to his family on Oct. 8 and was supposed to have returned home by Oct. 17.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police E Division issued a number of press releases about Benastick’s disappearance and extensive resources deployed to look for him, including search and rescue and the police dog services unit.
Northern Rockies RCMP confirmed on Tuesday that Benastick was found alive and rushed to the hospital. He is reportedly being treated for frostbite and smoke inhalation after his shelter burned down.
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Two sources confirmed to Global News that the 20-year-old was found by an oil patch worker walking on an access road about 10 kilometres from the Alaska Highway.
Benastick told police that he stayed in his car for a couple of days and then walked to a creek where he camped out for 10 to 15 days. Then he moved down the valley, and built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed, police said in a release.
He then made his way to where he flagged down the two men and was taken to safety.
“Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome. After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this was would not be the outcome” said Cpl Madonna Saunderson, BC RCMP communications liaison officer.
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