Sam Banostick is safe in hospital after going missing, spending
50 days in the rugged forest of Northeast BC, his
family breathing a sigh of relief.
I'm so proud of him 'cause I know he somehow
kept himself alive out there and he's just my big,
strong, courageous boy.
He's just amazing.
An extensive search got underway after his parents reported him
missing last month.
He didn't return home from a 10 day camping and
fishing trip in a remote provincial park.
Then on Tuesday, just before noon, good news, says the
manager of a local inn.
Benostik was found walking on a remote Rd.
by workers dealing with, well sites.
He had cut his sleeping bag and wrapped it around
his legs and his feet so he he knew how
to survive.
It's amazing.
And now he's right now he's in Fort Nelson Hospital.
His uncle says he was suffering from frostbite and some
smoke inhalation when he was found.
His last known location was at the trailhead to a
narrow lake surrounded by boreal forest.
The search lasted for days, but on October 28th, police
called it off.
The search area was was massive and within that search
area the geography, the terrain varied significantly as well.
Conditions in the area deteriorated, snow fell in the region
and overnight lows dropped to -20°C in recent days.
He did tell us that he stayed with his vehicle
for a few days and then he camped out at
another place for 10 to 15 days and then further
on built a shelter in a dried out Creek bed
where he remained until he was found.
His story of survival has sparked questions.
We have no knowledge or information at this time as
to why he didn't drive out of the Bush where
he was.
Benostic's grandma says she already knows what she'll be getting
him for Christmas.
Agps, Mira Baines, CBC News, Vancouver.