News

Woman stranded in AZ wilderness for 5 days, left clues for rescuers

A Texas woman is recovering after a life-threatening ordeal in the Arizona desert.

Texas college student Amber VanHecke, 24, ran out of gas on a sightseeing trip to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon on March 12.

She was traveling by herself and told ABC News that she made a wrong turn based on directions from her GPS. She ended up in the middle of nowhere and making matters worse she couldn't get cellphone reception.

But she was prepared because she had traveled alone before.

"I planned out my itinerary, had it posted on Facebook and stuff and off I went with some non-perishables and water," ABC News reported.

A couple of the notes Amber VanHecke wrote that rescuers used to help find her are pictured here.

Arizona Department of Public Safety

As one day turned into two, she started writing messages on notebook paper and created a “help” sign out of rocks.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that she decided to start walking to try and get a signal for her cellphone. She managed to talk to a 911 operator briefly before she lost the call, but it was long enough.

Bye, Texas! I'll see you in ten days.

Posted by Ducky VanHecke on Friday, March 10, 2017

An air rescue crew from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office was sent to look for her.

The crew found her car and a note she had left explaining that she had started walking east, media outlets reported. They also spotted her “help” sign from the air.

They eventually located her based on all the clues she left behind.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement Wednesday on its website that VanHecke had run out of food and was almost out of water when she was found on March 17, five days after her ordeal began.

"When she left the vehicle, she left notes so we knew where to find her. She did everything right," trooper paramedic Eddie Bissonette said.

I'm at Flagstaff Medical Center. I was stranded in the desert for 119 hours (almost five days). Feeling thankful to be alive.

Posted by Ducky VanHecke on Friday, March 17, 2017

"She was treated at the scene for exposure, placed in the helicopter, and transported to the trauma center in Flagstaff," according to the statement.

VanHecke managed to stay positive about the harrowing experience, posting about her ordeal on Facebook.

“I must be Irish because the luck was definitely with me today to get found.”

I must be Irish because the luck was definitely with me today to get found. Happy St Patrick's Day

Posted by Ducky VanHecke on Friday, March 17, 2017