Injured hiker missing for nine days rescued after crawling to find water

A hiker who was stranded in the Californian wilderness for more than a week survived by drinking water from a creek after crawling for two days with broken bones. Miyuki Harwood was found in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest after she used a whistle to alert a search team on Saturday. The 62-year-old was airlifted to a hospital after being rescued following a major search operation and was said to be in a stable condition.

Her voice was strong. She was extremely thankful that people were looking for her.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims

Ms Harwood suffered her injuries when she got separated from a group of hikers near Horsehead Lake, 100 miles north-west of Fresno, on 20 August. She had very little food and supplies because she was only carrying enough for a day trip. To survive, Ms Harwood, of Folsom, California, crawled for two days from where she suffered the broken bones to a creek, where she used a water bottle with a filter inside to drink. Rusty Hotchkiss, a paramedic who flew her to hospital, said: “She was a fighter. She was very exhausted - very tired, but she was very thankful to be saved and to get out of there.”

She was really at the end of the time period that we thought she could survive.

Paramedic Rusty Hotchkiss

Americas sierra national forest