Survival Update

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Lost Hiker Missed Rescue Team, Ignored “Spam” Calls

Maybe he just thought it was someone calling to extend his car warranty, but a lost hiker missed his opportunity to be rescued when he did not answer the call from searchers because “he didn’t recognize the number.”

A hiker lost on a mountain in Colorado ignored repeated calls from rescuers — later explaining that he had been unfamiliar with the phone number, authorities said.

The unnamed person was reported missing after he didn’t return from an expedition October 18 on Mount Elbert, the highest peak in the state, Lake County Search and Rescue said.

Search crews canvassed the area the following day but couldn’t find any signs of the hiker, officials said. Officials said a team of five people set out at 11 p.m. to search for the missing hiker and stayed out until 3 a.m. on October 19. A team of three then picked up the search a few hours later, at 7 a.m., looking in areas where hikers typically get lost.

The team then tried to call the hiker but were unable to reach him, authorities said.

The hiker had apparently wandered off the trail and spent the night looking for it.

After being lost and missing for 24 hours, the hiker his way out and made it to his car, officials said.

The person apparently didn’t know that a search team had been looking for them.

“The subject ignored repeated phone calls from us because they didn’t recognize the number,” rescuers wrote on Facebook.

“If you’re overdue according to your itinerary, and you start getting repeated calls from an unknown number, please answer the phone; it may be a Search and Rescue team trying to confirm you’re safe!”

Now, can I talk to you about your auto warranty?