Woman, 76, found alive after 10 days in woods

Woman, 76, found alive after 10 days in woods

Doris Anderson, 76, is hauled out of a canyon by rescuers in this photo from the scene.

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Story Published: Sep 6, 2007 at 4:34 PM PDT

Story Updated: Sep 7, 2007 at 12:56 PM PDT

By KATU Web Staff

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BAKER COUNTY, Ore. - A woman missing in the remote Eastern Oregon wilderness since August 24 has been found alive.

Doris Anderson, 76, was reportedly located in a steep canyon in Baker County with a hip injury. She was reportedly found about 2 p.m.

Rescuers report she was found conscious and alert. She was taken to a Baker City hospital by helicopter once out of the canyon.

According to a press release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson was found by a Baker County Sheriff’s Deputy and an Oregon State Police trooper. They located the missing woman alive in extremely rough terrain deep in a canyon near Bennett Creek.

The two lawmen had continued looking for the woman long after most search efforts had been ended. When first reported missing, over 70 people were looking for the lost woman.

Family members were elated at the news. Anderson's sister-in-law told KATU News that she had a constant vision of Doris alive in a canyon. She said she had not given up hope.

Her brother-in-law said he did not think Anderson knew any special survival skills. Overnight temperatures in the area where she was found have been in the 30s.

A memorial for Anderson had been planned for this coming weekend.

Anderson went bow hunting near Baker City with her 75-year-old husband, Harold Anderson.

On Thursday, August 23, their truck and trailer reportedly got stuck deep in the forest.
   
Harold Anderson broke his wrist while trying to unload their ATV and free the stuck truck, according to his brother, Melvin Anderson.
  
The couple decided they needed help and started walking out of the forest when Doris Anderson started feeling weak.
   
While she walked back to the car, Harold Anderson hiked for more than 24 hours to get help.

Melvin Anderson said: "Harold was kind of confused and thought he had only walked two or three hours, but the sheriff said he had to have walked probably a day, and a night, and half a day to get out to the highway."

When police returned to the vehicle, Doris could not be found.
   
More than 40 people searched the area in the following days. The search was scaled back after Anderson could not be found.

The family had reportedly been planning  a memorial for Anderson in the coming days.

The rugged area where she was found is one of the least-populated and rugged regions of Oregon.


Doris Anderson is loaded into a medical helicopter for a flight to a Baker City hospital.

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