View of the mountains in Golden Ears Park in British Columbia, Canada.Gabriel Mello/Getty Images
A 16-year-old girl was separated from her hiking group in the Canadian wilderness and disappeared.
After 54 hours and a massive search and rescue operation, she left the location the same way she came in.
The RCMP said the teenager was unharmed apart from a few mosquito bites.
A young girl missing in the Canadian wilderness found her way out of a provincial park in British Columbia after 54 hours, authorities said.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement that 16-year-old Esther Wang entered Golden Ears Park on June 27 as part of a hiking party. Eventually, the girl got separated from her group and when none of them could find her, they notified park officials.
Finally, after a two-day search and rescue operation involving 16 teams and a multitude of volunteers, Wang left the East Canyon Trail “on his own” around 9:30 p.m. on June 19, the RCMP statement said .
“The East Canyon Trail is the same trail she was on when she was separated from her group,” the statement said.
After an examination by medical personnel, Wang was reunited with her family that same evening.
In a news conference, RCMP Superintendent Wendy Mehat told Canadian reporters that Wang was “tired but unharmed apart from a few mosquito bites.”
Mehat added that Wang “is healthy, she is happy, she is with her family. This is the best possible result for us.”
Rescue team member Ryan Smith told CBC News that Wang is “a very determined young lady” and commended her for being level-headed.
Wang “has taken precautions. She had food and water. She seemed to pause and then think, orient herself and plan accordingly,” Smith said, according to CBC.
The RCMP reminded hikers to prepare for their trek by bringing essentials such as food, water, extra clothing, navigation aids and a first aid kit.
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