Woman Rescued After 18 Hours In Wilderness For YouTube Competition

A 36-year-old California woman participating in a YouTube survival show was rescued after spending nearly 18 hours lost in the dense Pigeon River Forest in Charlton Township, Michigan. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, went missing on Friday (September 5) around 5 p.m. after leaving the base camp to search for water, according to the Otsego County Sheriff's Office.

When she failed to return, her fellow contestants initiated a search. After 12 hours without success, they contacted authorities at 5 a.m. on Saturday (September 6). A coordinated search effort was launched, involving multiple agencies, including the Michigan State Police and local fire departments.

A Michigan State Police helicopter located the woman at approximately 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, deep within a swampy area of the forest, which was still recovering from previous ice storm damage. The helicopter crew guided ground teams to her location, and she was able to walk out of the forest on her own.

Medical teams evaluated her at the scene and confirmed she had not suffered any serious injuries during her ordeal. The identity of the YouTube show and its hosts have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear if the woman will continue participating in the competition.

The Pigeon River Forest, known as "Big Wild," is located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and spans 109,000 acres, providing a prime habitat for the state's elk herd. The forest's challenging terrain and recent weather conditions contributed to the difficulty of the search.