Grandma Lost in Arizona Spells 'Help' On Canyon Floor, Gets Rescued

A grandma lost in the Arizona wilderness for nine days was rescued Saturday after writing "help" on the ground with rocks and sticks.

Ann Rodgers, 72, and her dog drank creek water and ate berries and plants to survive over the nine days, law enforcement officials told the Arizona Republic. Rodgers was in fair condition at the time of her rescue by an Arizona Department of Public Safety air rescue unit, even though she suffered from exposure.

The Department of Public Safety stated that Rodgers became lost during her road trip from Tucson to Phoenix on March 31. She ran out of gas and then became disoriented while climbing several ridges in an attempt to get better cellphone reception, according to Reuters.

Her abandoned car was found on April 3, which is when the Gila County Sheriff's office became involved in the search, according to its Facebook page.

"The Gila County Sheriff's Office, Gila County Search and Rescue, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, along with the Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter responded to assist the White Mountain officials in attempts to locate the victim," the sheriff's office statement said.
 
"On April 9 … at approximately 5:45 p.m. Ann Charon Rodgers, 72 years old, was located in the Canyon Creek Area. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter was able to get assistance to her and transport her to a local hospital to be evaluated," the statement continued.

Reuters reported that a tribal wildlife officer found Rodgers' dog walking in an area known as Canyon Creek six days after her car was found. Then the rescue helicopter found her makeshift "help" distress signal on the canyon floor.

Rodgers had also written a message and left it under a rock explaining her situation and her plans to walk down the canyon.

Johnny Holmes, a detective with the tribal game and fish agency, told the Arizona Republic that Rodgers played a major role in her own rescue with the "help" sign and message.

"If she didn't do her part, we might still be out there looking for her," Holmes told the Republic. "She partook in her own rescue by giving our guys clues to find and follow where she was."

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