Didsbury senior rescued after 4 days alone in central Alberta wilderness
The search for an elderly woman who wandered away from a campground west of Innisfail ended happily Thursday morning.
A 78-year-old woman was recued by an RCMP helicopter assisted by multiple search and rescue crews Thursday morning after four days alone -- she was found "alive and well", with officials telling CTV News the senior experienced confusion.
"You don't forget these type of events. They stay with you," said Special Constable Al Miller, also a pilot for the RCMP.
On Monday, family called police saying they last spotted Vandenbosch at a campground at Dickson Point at Glennifer Lake, about 60 kilometres southwest of Red Deer.
Officials believe she wandered off into a heavily-wooded area.
The rescue mission was complete as of 9:30 Thursday morning, when the senior was located in good condition.
Rescue effort by Alberta RCMP Air Services on Thursday, June 1, 2023
"She was conscious and in considerably good shape considering four days out in the bush," said Miller.
Other officers described deep satisfaction and gratitude for the successful mission.
"We are actually able to get her out of there, and provide some meaningful assistance and help people," said RCMP Corporal Kaylin Makeechek.
She was assessed by paramedics nearby, then transported by STARS Air Ambulance to hospital for more assessment.
RCMP say they want to know how Vandenbosch made it through without food, water, or technology.
"Our officers will be interviewing her once she's able to try to figure out what happened over the last four days, but that is a long time," said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, RCMP public information officer.
Pilots and ground crew with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) say they are grateful to have contributed to Vandenbosch's safe return.
"It was amazing actually from our point. We worked hard at it, it was tough flying," said Jim Thoreson, pilot of fixed-wing aircraft with CASARA.
"It's a great feeling knowing she came out alive. I can't imagine what she would have gone through out there," said Peter Wakefield, a zone commander with CASARA.
Further details about Vandenbosch's medical condition were not shared, but Mounties say she's in good spirits.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'