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Teen missing in B.C. provincial park for 2 days found safe

16-year-old, who survived 2+ days alone in the wilderness, walked out into her parents91Ƶ waiting arms
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Esther Wang is alive. Reports tonight say she walked out of the trail after she went missing two days ago during a hike in Golden Ears Provincial Park. (Estherwangvolleyball - Instagram/Special to The News)

When her parents looked up from the front seat of their family car, they couldn91Ƶt believe their eyes.

It was dusk and they were exhausted. Their eyes must have been deceiving them 91Ƶ but that wasn91Ƶt the case.

It was in fact their 16-year-old daughter 91Ƶ who had been missing in Golden Ears Provincial Park for more than two full days. She was walking out of the wilderness and heading right towards them.

A few short hours ago, Esther Wang walked out of the East Canyon Trail 91Ƶ the same trail she disappeared on Tuesday afternoon 91Ƶ and she was very much alive and well, despite being fatigued and eaten alive by mosquitoes, said Ridge Meadows RCMP Staff Sgt. Keith Schendel.

91ƵIt is confirmed,91Ƶ he shared with The News, noting how appreciative he was to be able to share good news in this case immediately after meeting with Wang and her parents in the park.

It turned out she got lost and spent two days trying to find her way out.

After making numerous trips up and down the mountain trying to find a path out91Ƶ after sleeping on logs intermittently through the ordeal91Ƶ And after rationing her food and water, until it was all but gone, the missing teenager walked out of the forested mountainside, and strolled right up to her parents car just before 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night.

Her parents had just climbed into their vehicle as the sun was going down on the third day of an extensive backwoods search for Wang.

Wang was one of four people who went for a hike at around 9 a.m. Tuesday, as part of a youth activity.

The group, that was on a camping trip, hiked to Steve91Ƶs Lookout and left at around 2:45 p.m. to head back to their campground. Around 15 minutes into the hike back, the group leader was alerted that Wang had been separated from the group.

91ƵAs it is when people get tired at different levels of fitness, the group got a little bit separated and when they stopped to check up and wait for each other, they noticed that Esther had fallen behind and they couldn91Ƶt locate her,91Ƶ RCMP Cpl. Julie Klaussner explained early into the search.

The group went back to the viewpoint looking for Wang, but they were unable to find her.

That91Ƶs when the group leader went to the entrance of the trail and alerted a park ranger who reported Wang missing to police.

During the subsequent hours and days, Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue 91Ƶ with assistance from the Ridge Meadows RCMP and the police dog unit, as well as search volunteers from around the Lower Mainland 91Ƶ combed the areas where she had last been seen and continued to extend the search radius out from there.

It91Ƶs estimated upwards of 50 people were involved in the hunt for Wang during the past few days.

91ƵThankfully,91Ƶ Schendel said, 91Ƶshe emerged from the wilderness91Ƶ she walked out under her own power tonight.91Ƶ

Paramedics were called up to the mountain Thursday night, to check Wang out. But relatively unharmed by the experience, the teen was released to the care of her grateful and 91Ƶoverjoyed91Ƶ parents.

While more details of her last few days in the backwoods will wait until Wang has a chance to sleep, the staff sergeant was able to piece together a few basics.

91ƵIt looked like she had taken a wrong turn. She had basically descended the mountain a bit and then when she realized that she91Ƶd taken the wrong turn, she tried to correct but went back up the incorrect way maybe,91Ƶ Schendel said, noting some facts are still a bit unclear due to her level of exhaustion.

During and after the search, her parents have repeatedly expressed appreciation to all those involved in trying to find their little girl.

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Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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