Missing man found alive in Cariboo wilderness after 9-day search
CARIBOO, BRITISH COLUMBIA, AUG 10 – Andrew Barber survived nine days in the Cariboo wilderness by sheltering, drinking pond water, and signaling for help, with rescue crews covering hundreds of kilometers to find him.
- On Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, Andrew Barber, 39-year-old man, was found alive near a shelter by an RCMP helicopter past McLeese Lake after nine days missing.
- After his vehicle broke down in late July near Riske Creek, Barber was reported missing on July 31, 2025, prompting a search by Williams Lake RCMP.
- Search teams found Barber near a large rock with an SOS message in mud, where he built a small mud shelter insulated with grass and survived by drinking pond water.
- Staff Sergeant Brad McKinnon said, 'He sustained some injuries and was severely dehydrated, we found him at the right time,' before Barber was transported to Cariboo Memorial Hospital and reunited with his family.
- Quesnel Search and Rescue highlighted its training and response ethos, with Zimmerman urging wilderness travelers to carry satellite-capable devices for emergencies.
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29 Articles
Man survives several days in B.C. wilderness by 'slurping pond water' and eating 'whatever he could find'
Williams Lake RCMP say 39-year-old Andrew Barber was "slurping pond water" and "munched on whatever he could find" to stay alive for several days after his truck had broken down in a remote part of the Cariboo.

B.C. man survives several days in wilderness by slurping water from ponds
VICTORIA - Williams Lake RCMP say 39-year-old Andrew Barber was "slurping pond water" and "munched on whatever he could find" to stay alive for several days after his truck had broken down in a remote part of the Cariboo.
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