Missing hiker found after 50 days in BC wilderness
By Castlegar Source
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 11:30 am, Northern Rockies RCMP were notified that Sam Benastick, who was reported missing on Oct, 19, 2024 had been located after spending roughly 50 days in the wilderness.
Two people were headed to the Redfern Lake trail for work, where they saw a man walking toward them. When they approached the man, they recognized him as Sam Benastick.
The two men took Sam to the hospital where police attended and confirmed the man to be the man reported missing.
Sam told police that he stayed in his car for a couple of days and then walked to a creek, mountain side where he camped out for 10-15 days. Then moved down the valley, and built a camp and shelter in a dried-out creek bed. 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.
The RCMP would like to sincerely thank the Fort Nelson and North Peace and Search and Rescue teams including other Search and Rescue jurisdictions that provided mutual aid support, the Canadian Rangers along with many local volunteers with extensive back country knowledge of the area.
The time, effort and resources put in to locate Sam from the time of notification he was missing was beyond measure. We are thankful for the great outcome.
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