A 36-year-old woman competing in a YouTube outdoor survival contest was rescued after being lost for 18 hours in Michigan’s Pigeon River Forest.
The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office said the California native left the designated base camp in Charlton Township around 5 p.m. on September 5 to search for water. When she failed to return, the contest hosts launched a search but were unable to find her. Authorities were notified at about 5 a.m. the next morning when she was reported missing.
With the help of police, EMS, and other authorities, the 36-year-old was safely rescued from the forest.
Woman rescued from middle of forest
Michigan State Police said canine units were deployed into the dense forest, which was still damaged from a recent ice storm. At around 10:40 a.m., an MSP helicopter located the woman “deep within a swampy area,” where she had endured cold and rainy conditions overnight.
Several agencies joined the search, including the Department of Natural Resources, multiple fire departments, and the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit. Once spotted from the air, ground officers and firefighters were guided to her location.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the woman was able to walk out under her own power. She was evaluated by EMS on scene and released without serious injuries. Rescue footage shared by Michigan State Police shows her waving toward the helicopter as responders moved in to bring her to safety.
This isn’t the first time a YouTuber has had to be rescued from a remote area in 2025, either. Back in June, Spanian was flown out of the Everest View Hotel after almost immediately getting sick.
