BC Woman Survives Seven Weeks In The Desert

On Friday, Rita Chretien, 56, of Penticton, was rescued in Nevada by two ATV riders after having been missing since March 19th. Chretien and her husband, Albert, had been on their way to a trade show in Las Vegas when they strayed at night off Idaho 51-Nevada 225 onto a little used and unpaved U.S. Forest Service road. The vehicle got stuck in the mud and three days later, on March 22nd, Albert Chretien went to get help, and is still missing.

Rita Chretien is recovering at an Twin Falls, Idaho hospital. Doctors credit her being able to endure her possibly-record-breaking seven weeks of near starvation due to her expending minimal energy, being able to melt snow for drinking water and having a few snacks to ration a the start. They also believe her calmness, upbeat attitude and spiritual faith allowed her to hold on. Mrs. Chretien had had a premonition shortly before her rescue that the end of the ordeal was near and that she would either be rescued or fall asleep for the last time.

The Chretien's son Raymond was able to spend Mother's Day with his mother and said her survival was "the biggest miracle you could ever ask for," and added, "Never give up, never lose your faith."