A 70-year-old hiker was rescued “alive and alert” after being missing for a week on a remote island in Michigan, as per official reports.
Craig Berg was found thanks to the assistance of state police and K-9 units on Saturday, following sightings by backpackers in Isle Royale National Park, according to a statement from the US Coast Guard.
Berg had sustained injuries and suffered from hypothermia after spending a week alone in the challenging terrain of the park, which lacks cell service, drones, and motorized vehicles, officials explained.
Debbie Berg, his wife, shared that her husband had gone for an extended solo hike and was expected home by September 5 but failed to return.
“He went on an extended hike there and did not show up when he was supposed to catch the ferry back,” Debbie commented.
The Coast Guard released dramatic footage showing an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter lifting the elderly hiker from the wilderness before he was taken for medical evaluation.
It’s still unclear what specific injuries he incurred or the details surrounding his disappearance.
On Friday, a response boat and helicopter crew were deployed to Isle Royale, along with troopers and K-9 units, in an effort to find the missing hiker from Royal Oak, the Coast Guard reported.
“We’re grateful that missing hiker, Craig Berg, was found alive and alert on Isle Royale,” stated Lt. Ben Eckola, public information officer for Michigan State Police Eighth District.
The comprehensive search for Berg involved collaboration with various agencies, including the National Park Service and local law enforcement, as noted by Eckola.
“We’re also thankful to the fellow hikers who assisted, Isle Royale Seaplanes, and No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue. Everyone’s efforts were crucial in locating Craig,” Eckola added.
