An American journalist who went missing while solo hiking in Norway has been found alive after six days. Alec Rune, a 38-year-old from Wisconsin, was discovered by search and rescue teams and then airlifted to a hospital. He had been missing in Forgefonna National Park since July 31, according to the local Red Cross.
Rune was spending time vacationing with his family when he decided to embark on a few days of hiking across the national park. However, when he didn’t return on Monday, concerns grew.
His wife, Veronika Silchenko, emphasized that her husband was quite experienced in outdoor activities. “Alec is basically obsessed with the Arctic,” she shared with CBS News. “He loves glaciers and snow, he’s fascinated by explorers and focuses on climate journalism, especially how glaciers are shrinking due to climate change.” Naturally, when she hadn’t heard from him, she reported him missing, prompting local authorities to initiate a search around the Forgefonna Glacier.
The search efforts faced significant challenges as bad weather resulted in halting operations over two consecutive nights. Volunteer teams, including police, K-9 units, and drones, worked tirelessly, but visibility and difficult terrain hampered their progress.
In a statement made just hours before Rune was found, the Norwegian Red Cross explained, “Difficult terrain, poor visibility, rain, and high water levels complicated access to key areas.” Fortunately, the weather cleared on Wednesday, allowing search teams to locate Rune, who was then transported by helicopter for medical attention. Authorities have not disclosed the specifics of his condition.
Rune, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has contributed to many notable publications such as The Guardian, New York Times, Atlantic, National Geographic, Scientific American, and CBS News Radio.
