Hiker rescued after surviving 10 days in remote mountains in California living off berries
A hiker who went missing for 10 days in remote mountains in California was found alive despite having no water and not telling anyone of his plans.
Lukas McClish set out on a three-hour hike on June 11 near Big Basin Redwood State Park, around 14 miles north of Santa Cruz.
The 34-year-old only took a few supplies with him because it was planned to be a short walk, but he quickly got lost.
The alarm was only raised by his parents five days later, on Father’s Day, when he failed to show up for lunch.
"I didn't bring anything because I thought I was doing a three-hour hike to go to work," he said.
When Mr McClish got lost, he said he had only a flashlight and folding scissors.
"So, I kind of just hiked," he added. "Each day, I go up a canyon, down a canyon to the next waterfall, sit down by the waterfall, drink water out of my boot."
Mr McClish said he was "comfortable the whole time I was out there" and "wasn't worried about it".
"I had a mountain lion that was following me, but it was cool," he added. "It kept its distances. I think it was just somebody watching over me."
Mr McClish had no major injuries and was reunited with his family.
"This truly was a team effort with the best outcome we could have hoped for," the sheriff's office said.
He was finally rescued on June 20, having spent nine nights and 10 days foraging, drinking water from the creek out of his boots and eating wild berries.
He lost roughly two-and-a-half stone in the ordeal.
