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Ann Rodgers72-year-old American woman who survived nine days and nine nights in the desert
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Lost in the Desert
72-year-old American, Anne Rogers, survived nine days and nights in the wilderness after getting lost in the Arizona desert.
Stranded
On March 31, 2016, Rogers set off with her dog and cat to drive to Phoenix to visit her grandchildren. When she ran out of gas, she found herself on a remote road near Canyon Creek, within the boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The elderly woman tried to climb to a higher elevation to get cell phone reception but became disoriented and spent the next nine days and nights lost in the wilderness with her dog.
Search
On April 3, 2016, after two days of searching, officers located Rogers' vehicle and cat, but there was no sign of the woman. An aerial search also proved unsuccessful. On April 9, 2016, an officer responding to a call found Rogers' dog roaming near Canyon Creek. Later, the word "help" was discovered in the desert, created by Rogers using sticks and rocks gathered from the canyon floor. The discovery gave searchers hope and prompted further efforts.
Message in a Canyon
Beneath one of the rocks used to create the message, officers found a handwritten note dated April 3. It indicated that Rogers was running out of water and food. The note also mentioned that she was "going down canyon." Following the "going down canyon" lead, searchers located a small, unoccupied outbuilding that resembled a shelter. They proceeded further and reached a bend in the canyon where they finally spotted Rogers standing next to a signal fire and waving to a hovering helicopter.
Rescued and Recovered
Rogers was airlifted to a hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition. Reflecting on her ordeal, the resilient survivor said, "Just because you get old, it doesn't mean you're helpless. You gain wisdom with age."
