A YouTube survival show contestant was rescued nearly 18 hours after she went missing in a damp Michigan forest over the weekend — with aerial footage showing her waving frantically at a hovering helicopter.
The 36-year-old woman, whose identity has not yet been released, wandered from a base camp in Pigeon River Country State Forest around 5 p.m. Friday to find water — but never returned, prompting the contest’s hosts to search for her, UpNorthLive reported.
After their efforts failed, police were called in at 5 a.m. Saturday and launched a coordinated canine and helicopter search in the densely wooded area that had been damaged from an ice storm earlier this year, Michigan State Police said in a statement.
Around 10:40 a.m., troopers located the missing woman deep within a swampy region, cops said.
Photos released by authorities showed the survivalist waving frantically to helicopters overhead.
Law enforcement officers and firefighters were able to walk her out of the cold, damp woods safely, cops said.
She was evaluated by emergency medical services and released with no serious injuries, UpNorthLive reported.
It is not immediately clear who was hosting the show that the woman was participating in.
