It was July 31st when Andrew Barber was first reported missing after his truck broke down on a remote forest service road in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. What followed was an extraordinary nine-day ordeal that tested his survival instincts and culminated in a dramatic rescue that took place late last week after authorities spotted a “HELP” sign he inscribed on a large rock.
Unsure of his motivation to be out in such a remote area, the 39-year-old was last seen July 28th near Riske Creek, west of the Fraser River between Quesnel and Williams Lake. When he hadn’t returned, concerned family members alerted the Williams Lake RCMP a few days later. With no sign of him or his vehicle, the RCMP teamed up with Quesnel Search and Rescue to mount a comprehensive search in the dense wilderness.
"We had been at this for nine days, and it was essentially like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Staff Sgt. Brad McKinnon of the Williams Lake RCMP. "The Cariboo region of British Columbia is beautiful, but it is immense, and there are tons of rural and wilderness areas."
After a 9-day search, authorities finally found a glimpse of human life in a remote region of the Cariboo. According to authorities, they spotted his 2004 black Dodge Ram truck, identifiable by a light bar, a dented rear bumper, and a spilled paint mark on a forest service road. Continuing to monitor the area from the air, it wasn’t long before SAR teams spotted a makeshift shelter in the woods about 5km from his truck, along with a call for help. Directly beside the shelter was a massive rock with the word “HELP” scrawled across the face of it along with an “SOS” message written in the mud close by.
Authorities were soon on the ground to mount the rescue operation, finding the 6’3” man in relatively good shape despite having a leg injury and some obvious signs of malnutrition and dehydration.
Reports indicated that he resorted to drinking unclean pond water to stay hydrated and reportedly munched on whatever he could find, possibly including plants or small wildlife, though specifics remain unclear.
Quesnel Search and Rescue president Bob Zimmerman noted Barber’s weakened state upon discovery.
“He was having a hard time standing. I don’t know that he would have made it another 24 hours without us recovering him.”
The leg injury and severe dehydration pushed Barber to the brink, making his survival a testament to human resilience. Rescuers were able to stabilize Barber on-site before airlifting him to Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. Despite his rough condition, McKinnon reported that Barber was “doing quite well” post-rescue and was discharged after treatment for dehydration and his leg injury.
The Quesnel Search and Rescue team celebrated the outcome, stating on social media, “Today’s result is why we train, why we respond, and why we never give up.”
