Rhonda Cardinal has been found safe and sound after she went missing in the wilderness two weeks ago.
Cardinal, who went missing August 1 from a cabin located approximately 20 kilometres north east of Calling Lake, was located by a Husky Oil employee who was driving to a remote worksite on August 15.
She was found 14 miles from the cabin, having traveled through rough terrain including boggy areas and muskeg and thick treed areas, according to an RCMP press release.
“The Husky Oil employee is actually from out of province and was en route to his worksite when he came across her,” states an RCMP press release. “Interestingly, he had just read about her being missing in a newspaper article that morning before departing for work.”
The workman picked the woman up and took her to the worksite.
“They came across a courteous Delta Helicopter pilot, who was employed flying oil and gas crews to various sites that are inaccessible by road, and he helped with the next step in getting her home,” the report states. “The pilot flew Cardinal out to Athabasca where she was then taken to hospital for treatment of various minor injuries.”
The family was glad to hear that Cardinal was alive and doing well after fending for herself in the wilderness.
“I cannot thank those who helped us enough,” said Sgt. Brian Scott from the Athabasca RCMP in the release. “In terms of recognizing the hard work and continuous effort they all put in trying to locate Rhonda, working through adverse and challenging conditions, in the hopes of finding her alive, we owe them a large heartfelt thank you!”
