The man survives 9 days in the desert drinking dirty pond water, carved

A man was rescued after surviving nine lost days in the Canadian desert, authorities said.

Andrew Barber, 39, was reported as missing in the Caribo region of British Columbia on July 31, BBC News, a partner of News themezone. Williams Lake Royal Royal Canadian Monte Police Sargt. Brad McKinnon told the Canadian press that the search was like “looking for a needle in a haystack” and described the remote area like “Pantanosa”, with “tons of rural and wild areas.”

Fortunately, Barber had a “comprehension superior to the average desert,” McKinnon said. He was able to build a host and moss shelter. He drank pond water to stay hydrated, said McKinnon, and “ate what he could find.”

Barber also wrote multiple messages, including carving the word “help” in a rock near his refuge and drawing a “SOS” in mud to try to alert rescuers.

On August 8, Barber was found insurance near his shelter after being seen by a helicopter of the Quesnel search and rescue team. The rescuers had seen for the first time the Barber’s truck, then they found him already his refuge at about three miles, he told CBC News the president of Quesnel Search and Rescue Bob Zimmerman.

The barber was severely dehydrated and had a leg injury, the BBC reported. He was taken to a hospital to receive treatment and discharged.

“Today’s result is why we train, why we respond and why we never surrender,” said Quesnel search and rescue team on social networks.

Other agencies, including the Royal Canadian Monted Police, the British Columbia Pep Air and BC Emergency Health Services, also participated in Barber’s search for Barber.

Zimmerman told CBC News that despite Barber’s survival skills, he may not have lasted much longer.

“I was having difficulty standing. I don’t know if I would have done it for another 24 hours without recovering it,” said Zimmerman. “He is a lucky man.”

• Rescue
• Missing person
• Canada