73-Year Old Hiker Survived a Week Lost in California Wilderness by Drinking Water from a Creek

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hiker, lost for a week, found, california
Eugene Jo, 73, survived for a week by drinking water from a creek. Credit: AP

A 73-year-old hiker survived a week on his own in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles, CA after getting separated from his group while hiking to the summit of 8,000-foot Mount Waterman in Angeles National Forest.

The rescue effort that included more than 70 volunteers from all over California found Eugene Jo, 73, in a canyon and hoisted him to safety, Sgt. Greg Taylor with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. A helicopter crew flew him to a hospital to be examined.

hiker, lost for a week, found, california
Angeles National Forest

The Montrose Search and Rescue team tweeted that Jo was “walking and speaking” despite not having had eaten in at least five days. He survived by drinking water from a creek. Temperatures have been mild in the mountains. Over the last week the search effort included helicopters, scent dogs and ground crews from San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and Riverside counties.


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