Missing hiker rescued after 10 days in California forest
- 34-year-old Lukas McClish was reported missing June 15
- He survived eating berries and drinking water from his boot
- The hiker had no major injuries, rescuing agencies say
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(NewsNation) — A California man survived 10 days in the wilderness with only the clothes on his back, a flashlight and a pair of scissors.
Lukas McClish, 34, was reported missing June 15 by his family who had not seen him since June 11.
The Boulder Creek, California, native had embarked on a hike in California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park, expecting it to take only three hours.
More than a week after a hike gone wrong, McClish was found safe Thursday and reunited with his family.
Wildfires changed the landscape of the park, wiping away familiar markers McClish had planned to use to track his movements. He survived by drinking water from his boot, eating berries and sleeping on a bed of wet leaves.
Eventually, his screams for help were heard. A Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office drone spotted McClish in the forest on the 10th day of his disappearance.
A canine helped crews locate McClish in the remote area, ultimately rescuing the hiker and reuniting him with his family.
“We are grateful to have taken part in the rescue of McClish with the help and support of our mutual aid partners,” Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit told NewsNation affiliate KRON.
Miraculously, rescuing agencies confirmed McClish had no major injuries when he was found.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect the correct number of days that the hiker spent lost in the forest.
