Posted on 09/08/2007 6:37:45 AM PDT by Ghayyour
A 76-year-old woman who had been given up for dead after being lost in the Oregon mountains for two weeks has been found alive and well. Doris Anderson was on an elk hunting trip with her husband Harold when their truck broke down on 24 August.
Though miles from civilisation, the pair tried to walk to safety, but became separated in the woods.
Mrs Anderson's family had even begun planning her memorial service when she was found by police, reports say.
Rescuers had searched the region just south of the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area before but two officers from Baker County Sheriff's department had returned in the hope of finding some trace. They were alerted to some activity by the sound of ravens in a deep canyon, and when they followed the noise they came across Mrs Anderson, who had suffered a hip injury, but was conscious and alert.
"They actually could hear her talking to herself at the time which drew their attention to her and happened to walk right up on her as she was laying beside a creek," Baker County Sheriff Mitch Southwick said.
She was dehydrated, but had sustained herself with water from the creek.
Family joy
Mrs Anderson was dressed lightly, but managed to survive night-time temperatures of nearly 0C with just a touch of frostbite on her toes, which will not require surgery.
Doctors treating Mrs Anderson at St Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City say she is remarkably well considering her ordeal.
"They said that they've had people that have fallen between the bed and the wall that are younger that have had more severe injuries, I mean they've been in worse condition than what she is so they're really astounded, we all are" Mrs Anderson's daughter Barbara Moore told the Associated Press.
"My mom is much stronger than I ever knew that she was, I thought that she was more fragile than that and she's proved me wrong and I'm glad," she added.
Equally delighted is Mrs Anderson's husband Harold who had carried on looking for help when his wife had become exhausted and decided to try to return to their vehicle.
A disorientated Mr Anderson was later picked up by another hunting group, but they failed to find his wife.
"I thought my wife was dead," Mr Anderson said of the news that his wife was alive. "It's a living miracle, it has to be."
An interesting survivor story. Wonder how the couple became separated?
He ran; she walked??
He saw his chance and he took it.
He probably took her out parkin’ and sparkin’. Then he used the old “truck broke down” excuse. He told her to walk home when she wouldn’t cooperate./ just a silly joke.
I thank God that He was with them both. I also feel that she was not talking to herself, but to the Spirit that provides for those of us who believe.
Amen.
She turned back after they left together from where they broke down.
I don’t know if the article link has her pic but she looks like a young 60.
Been on the news often here in Oregon. Great news after a year of lost hikers on Mt Hood, the lost/died SF Bay area Asian man who took a wrong turn onto a forrest service road and a few other lost hikers/kids.
With all the bad news, I enjoyed reading a story with this kind of ending.
Her husband said they are giving up hunting as he intends to enjoy the rest of his life loving every moment with his wife.
Here is a link to the local story in more detail.
Doctors, rescuers, relatives marvel at woman’s survival | KATU - Portland, Oregon | News
Address:http://www.katu.com/news/9647867.html Changed:7:15 AM on Saturday, September 8, 2007
See post 8 for the “thanks be to God, from family members” and more detail version of the story.
Poster gal for “Tough Old Bird” :0)
Plainly rhetorical question here, but why would the beeb be interested in a story about a gramma in Oregon being lost for a couple weeks?
That’s kinda like the WSJ doing a local color article about some bloke in Scotland.
Saw this yesterday and still no word on what she ate during that time. Water appears to have been plentiful but I wonder how she didn’t starve to death.
The WSJ does do articles on people in other places. Aside from this,, your analogy isn’t very good to begin with.
Thanks!
Amen and amen.
(How about “Fred/Hunter, the head hunters”?
The idea behind Romney/Hunter was
King Vanity is for Romney and I am for Hunter so combining the two keeps our home in peace. : )
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.