A Father And Son Survived Being Lost In The Woods After Stumbling Across A Backpack Left By Another Hiker
A father-son hiking trip took a turn for the worse when they couldn’t find their way back to their path.
Julian Hernandez and his 12-year-old son were hiking near Snow Canyon State Park in Utah on Sunday, February 16, when they became lost, according to FOX13 UTAH.
Their disappearance was reported, but rescue crews were unable to locate them because it had become too dark by the time their search began.
At this point, Hernandez and his son found themselves in a life-threatening situation. Temperatures were dropping dangerously low.
However, in what could only be described as a miracle, they came across a backpack as they continued walking. Inside, they found supplies that would help them survive through the night.
The backpack was filled with food, blankets, and other essentials. It turns out, it belonged to a 15-year-old boy named Levi Dorman. He had abandoned it just one month earlier after getting lost in the same area. Fortunately, Levi was rescued the same day he went missing.
RELATED: LOST HIKER IGNORES CALLS FROM RESCUERS BECAUSE IT WAS AN UNKNOWN NUMBER
When asked about the incident, Levi’s mom recalled seeing the helicopters and searchlights from their home as crews looked for Hernandez and his son. She had no idea at the time that her own son’s backpack would ultimately save their lives.
“I’m so proud of him that he packed the stuff in there, thinking that he would need it. He thought it was for him,” she said. “That it eventually helped someone else, that is such a cool story, just a God thing that you would never forget.”
After being outside for 22 hours, Hernandez and his son were finally rescued.
The outcome of events was so incredible that Hernandez has vowed to “give back to the community” in some way. He and his wife are now considering becoming rescue volunteers to help others who may find themselves in a similar situation.